So- 

J  J  It 


Buffalo  Bill 


(HON.  WM.  F.  CODY) 


AND 


His  Wild  West  Companions 


INCLUDING 


Wild  Bill,  Texas  Jack,  California  Joe,  Capt.  Jack  Craw- 
ford arid  Other  Famous  Scouts  of  the 
Western  Plains. 


PUBLISHERS 

THE  HENNEBERRY  COMPANY 

CHICAGO 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  witii  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.arclnive.org/details/buffalobilllionwmOObuffricli 


CONTENTS 


I. 
II. 
III. 

IV. 
V. 

TI. 

VII. 

VII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

^  XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIIL 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 


As  THE  World  Knows  Him 7 

Boyhood  Days 17 

Exciting  Adventures 27 

On  a  Trapping  Expedition 33 

Riding  THE  Pony  Express 37 

Fighting  For  the  Union 44 

Lays  Out,  and  Booms  A  Town 49 

A  Run  For  Life 54 

Earns  the  Name  of  **Buffalo  Bill*'..  56 

Tames  the  Cow   Boys 61 

Guide,  Scout  and   Indian  Fighter..  ..  67 

Chief  of  Scouts 72 

Capturing  Horse  Thieves 79 

The  Cow  Boys - 90 

A  Guest  of  Gotham 97 

A  Night  Visit  to  Spotted  Tail's  Camp  104 

A  Royal  Buffalo  Hunt 108 

Winning  Fame  in  A  New  Field 113 

Once  More  A   Scout 116 

Triumphant  Wild  West 122 

Wild  West  in  England 126 

A  Winter  in  England 134 

Back  to  America 143 

Takes  In  the  World 151 

Some  Account  of  Wild  Bill 158 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

XXVI.     The  Famous  Pony  Express 169 

XXVII.  Buffalo  Bill's  Pioneer  Companions  . .  175 

XXVIII.     Poetry  OF  THE  Plains 198 

XXIX.     Custer'  s  Last  Charge 212 

XXX.     World's  Fair  Wild  West 221 


BUFFALO  BILL 


CHAPTER  I. 


AS  THE  WORLD  KNOWS  HIM. 


The  best  description  of  Buffalo  Bill,  as  the  world 
knows  him  to-day,  and  his  marvelous  exhibition  of 
pioneer  life  on  the  plains,  that  has  yet  appeared,  was 
given  by  a  writer  in  the  London  Era,  in  recounting  a 
Wild  West  performance  he  witnessed  at  Erastina, 
Staten  Island.     It  reads  as  follows: 

"In  the  grove  of  Erastina,  is  the  Wild  West  en- 
campment, adjoining  the  exhibition  grounds.  It  is 
not  unlike  a  military  camp,  with  its  headquarters 
under  canvas,  and  its  grouped  tepees  savagely  orna- 
mented with  scalps  and  feathers.  The  picturesque 
Indian  children  playing  under  the  trees,  the  uncouth, 
extemporized  comfort  and  the  prevailing  air  of  organ- 
ization give  it  a  novel  interest.  There  are  no  restric- 
tions upon  visitors,  who  are  allowed  to  enter  the 
tents,  chuck  the  Indian  babies  under  the  chin,  watch 
the  squaws  at  work,  and  interview  the  patriarchial 
chief  who  sits  grim  and  stoical  on  his  blanket.  Of 
the  exhibition  on  the  grounds   (and  the  proprietors 


5  BUFFALO    BILL 

will  not  allow  you  to  call  it  a  performance),  especially 
at  night  when  lit  by  the  electric  lights,  the  wild  beauty 
of  it  is  an  entirely  new  element  in  our  arena  sports. 
When  I  saw  it  there  were,  by  gate  record,  12,000 
people  on  the  stands,  which  you  will  understand  is 
the  population  of  a  goodly  town.  A  stentorian  voice 
in  front  of  the  grand  stand  makes  the  announcements, 
and  as  he  does  so,  the  bands  make  their  entry  from 
the  extreme  end  of  the  grounds,  dashing  up  to  the 
stand,  a  third  of  a  mile,  at  a  whirlwind  pace.  As  an 
exhibition  of  equestrianism  nothing  in  the  world  can 
equal  this.  Pawnees,  Sioux,  Cut  Off  Band,  Ogalallas, 
cowboys,  make  this  dash  in  groups,  successively,  and 
pull  qp  in  a  growing  array  before  the  stand  200 
strong.  Such  daredevil  riding  was  never  seen  among 
Cossacks,  Tartars,  Arabs.  All  the  picturesque  horse- 
manship of  the  famous  Bedouins  sinks  to  child's  play 
before  these  reckless  mamelukes  of  the  plains.  When 
the  American  cowboys  sweep  like  a  tornado  up  the 
track,  forty  or  fifty  strong,  every  man  swinging  his 
hat  and  every  pony  at  its  utmost  speed,  a  roar  of 
wonder  and  delight  breaks  from  the  thousands  and 
the  men  reach  the  grand  stand  in  a  cloud,  welcomed 
by  a  thunderburst.  Col.  Cody,  the  far-famed  Buffalo 
Bill,  comes  last.  I  don't  know  that  anybody  every 
described  Buffalo  Bill  on  a  horse.  I  am  inclined  to 
think  nobody  can.  Ainsworth's  description  of  Dick 
Turpin's  ride  stood  for  many  years  as  the  finest  thing 
of  its  kind,  and  then  young  Winthrop    in    his   clever 


.^^ 


AS  THE  WORLD   KNOWS   HIM  9 

story  of  *John  Brent*  excelled  it  in  his  ride  to  the 
Suggernell  Springs.  Either  one  of  these  men,  given 
a  month  and  a  safe  publisher,  might  have  wrought 
Buffalo  Bill  upon  paper.  He  is  the  complete  restor- 
ation of  the  Centaur.  No  one  that  I  ever  saw  so 
adequately  fulfills  to  the  eye  all  the  conditions  of 
picturesque  beauty,  absolute  grace,  and  perfect 
identity  with  his  animal.  If  an  artist  or  a  riding 
master  had  wanted  to  mould  a  living  ideal  of  romantic 
equestrianship,  containing  in  outline  and  action  the 
men  of  Harry  of  Navarre,  the  Americanism  of  Custer, 
the  automatic  majesty  of  the  Indian,  and  the  untu- 
tored cussedness  of  the  cowboy,  he  would  have 
measured  Buffalo  Bill  in  the  saddle.  Motion  swings 
into  music  with  him.  He  is  the  only  man  I  ever 
saw  who  rides  as  if  he  couldn't  help  it  and  the  sculptor 
and  the  soldier  had  jointly  come  together  in  his  act. 
It  is  well  worth  a  visit  to  Erastina  to  see  that  vast 
parterre  of  people  break  into  white  handkerchiefs  like 
a  calm  sea  suddenly  whipped  to  foam,  as  this  man 
dashes  up  to  the  grand  stand.  How  encumbered, 
and  uncouth  and  wooden  are  the  best  of  the  red 
braves  beside  the  martial  leadership  of  this  long- 
limbed  pale-face !  There  they  are,  drawn  up  in  platoon 
front.  No  circus  can  approximate  its  actuality.  Look 
down  the  line.  Every  man  has  a  record  of  daring, 
and  there,  shaking  her  long  hair,  is  Georgie  Duffie, 
the  Colorado  girl.  A  word  of  command,  the  line 
breaks.     Away  they  go  with  shouts  and  yells.     In 


lO  BUFFALO    BILL 

an  instant  the  grounds  are  covered  with  the  vanishing 
hoofs.  Feathers  and  war-paint  glimmer  in  the  mad 
swirl  and  they  are  gone  in  the  distance.  It  is  im- 
possible to  escape  the  thrill  of  this  intense  action. 
The  enthusiasm  of  the  multitude  goes  with  them. 
All  the  abeyant  savagery  in  the  blood  and  bones  comes 
to  the  surface,  and  men  and  women  shout  together. 
An  impression  prevailed  among  some  of  the  specta- 
tors that  these  wild  bucking  horses  are  trained  after 
the  manner  of  circus  horses.  Nothing  can  be  further 
from  the  truth,  as  I  had  occasion  to  learn  after  stay- 
ing at  the  camp  for  two  or  three  days  and  making 
their  acquaintance.  There  is  one  black  mare  they 
call  Dynamite  that  is,  without  exception,  the  wickedest 
animal  I  ever  saw.  You  are  to  understand  that  when 
a  man  attempts  to  mount  her  she  jumps  into  the  air, 
and  turning  a  back  somersault,  falls  upon  her  back 
with  her  heels  upward.  To  escape  being  crushed  to 
death  is  to  employ  the  marvelous  celerity  and  dexter- 
ity that  a  cowboy  alone  exhibits.  The  other  day  a 
cowboy  undertook  to  ride  this  animal.  It  was 
necessary  for  four  men  to  hold  her  and  she  had  to  be 
blindfolded  before  he  could  get  on  her,  and  then, 
letting  out  a  scream  like  a  woman  in  pain,  she  made 
a  headlong  dash  and  plunged  with  all  her  force  into 
a  fence,  turning  completely  over  head  first  and 
apparently  falling  upon  the  rider.  A  cry  of  horror 
rose  from  the  spectators.  But  the  rest  of  the  exhi- 
bition went  on.     Poor  Jim  was  dragged  out,  bleeding 


AS   THE    WORLD    KNOWS    Hill  IX 

and  maimed,  and  led  away.  What  was  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  multitude,  when  the  other  refractory 
animals  had  had  their  sport,  to  see  Dynamite  again 
led  out  and  the  cowboy,  limping  and  pale,  came  for- 
ward to  make  another  attempt  to  ride  her.  *No, 
no,'  cried  the  spectators,  *take  her  away.*  But  the 
indomitable  cowboy  only  smiled  grimly  and  gave  them 
to  understand  that  in  the  cowboys'  code  a  man  who 
failed  to  ride  his  animal  might  as  well  retire  from 
business.  It  was  do  or  die.  For  fifteen  minutes  the 
fight  went  on  between  man  and  beast.  Animal 
strength  against  pluck  and  intelligence.  I  never  saw 
a  multitude  brought  to  such  intense  interest.  It  was 
the  gladiatorial  contest  revived.  The  infuriated 
beast  shook  off  the  men  who  held  her  like  insects. 
She  lept  into  the  air  with  a  scream  and  fell  on  her 
back.  She  laid  down  and  grovelled.  But  the  cow- 
boy got  upon  her  back  by  some  superhuman  skill, 
and  then  he  was  master.  As  he  punished  the  animal 
mercilessly  and  swung  his  hat  triumphantly,  the  con- 
course of  people  stood  up  and  cheered  long  and  loud." 

This  graphic  description  of  Buffalo  Bill  and  his 
Wild  West  exhibition,  and  other  similar  accounts 
given  by  well-known  English  actors  who  had  wit- 
nessed the  performance  in  America,  awakened  a  deep 
desire  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  London  to  "take 
in"  the  entertainment. 

The  eminent  English  actor,  Mr.  Henry  Irving  thus 
spoke  to  a  representative  of  the  Era^  the   leading 


la  BUFFALO    BILL 

dramatic  organ  of  London,  regarding  a  Wild  West 
performance  he  witnessed  at  Staten  Island,  predicting 
that  when  it  should  come  to  London  it  would  take 
the  town  by  storm. 

"I  saw  an  entertainment  in  New  York  the  like  of 
which  I  had  never  seen  before,  which  impressed  me 
immensely.  It  is  coming  to  London  and  will  be  ex- 
hibited somewhere  near  Earl's  Court,  on  the  grounds 
of  the  forthcoming  Exhibition.  It  is  an  entertain- 
ment in  which  the  whole  of  the  most  interesting 
episodes  of  life  on  the  extreme  frontier  of  civilization 
in  America  are  represented  with  the  most  graphic 
vividness  and  scrupulosity  of  detail.  You  may  form 
some  idea  of  the  scale  upon  which  the  scene  is  played 
when  I  say  that  when  I  saw  it  the  stage  extended 
over  five  acres.  You  have  real  cowboys,  with  buck- 
ing horses,  real  buffaloes,  and  great  hordes  of  cows, 
which  are  lassoed  and  stampeded  in  the  most  realistic 
fashion  imaginable.  Then  there  are  real  Indians, 
who  execute  attacks  upon  coaches  driven  at  full  speed. 
No  one  can  exaggerate  the  extreme  excitement  and 
*go*  of  the  whole  performance.  However  well  it 
may  be  rehearsed — and  the  greatest  care  is  taken 
that  it  shall  go  properly — it  is  impossible  to  avoid  a 
considerable  share  of  the  impromptu  and  the  unfor- 
seen.  For  you  may  rehearse  with  buffaloes  as  much 
as  you  like,  but  no  one  can  say  in  what  way  they 
will  stampede  when  they  are  suddenly  turned  loose 
in  the  open.     No  one  can  say  how  the  ox  has  to  be 


AS    THE    WORLD    KNOWS    HIM  I3 

lassoed,  or  in  what  way  the  guns  have  to  be  fired 
when  the  border  fight  comes  on.  The  excitement  is 
immense,  and  I  venture  to  predict  that  when  it  comes 
to  London  it  will  take  the  town  by  storm." 

Mr.  Irving's  prediction  was  fulfilled  to  the  letter. 
Buffalo  Bill  and  his  Wild  West  riders  were  welcomed 
to  London  with  a  more  than  royal  welcome,  for 
royalty  itself — the  Queen,  the  Prince  of  Wales  and 
other  royal  personages  of  high  rank,  as  well  as  vast 
crowds  of  the  London  populace  flocked  to  Earl's 
Court  station  to  witness  the  much  talked  of  perfor- 
mance. The  public  press  could  not  say  enough  in 
its  favor,  all  were  flatteringly  eulogistic.  The  London 
Illustrated  News  devoted  to  a  graphic  description  of 
the  exhibition  a  two  full  page  illustration  and  four 
columns  of  descriptive  matter.  Following  is  an  ex- 
tract from  the  latter: 

"This  remarkable  exhibition,  the  *Wild  West,'  has 
created  a  furore  in  America,  and  the  reason  is  easy  to 
understand.  It  is  not  a  circus,  nor  indeed  is  it  acting 
at  all,  in  a  theatrical  sense;  but  an  exact  reproduc- 
tion of  daily  scenes  in  frontier  life,  as  experienced 
and  enacted  by  the  very  people  who  now  form  the 
Wild  West  company.  It  comprises  Indian  life,  cow- 
boy life,  Indian  fighting,  and  burning  Indian  villages, 
lassoing  and  breaking  in  wild  horses,  shooting,  feats 
©f  strength,  and  border  athletic  games  and  sports.  It 
could  only  be  possible  for  such  a  remarkable  under- 
taking to  be  carried  out  by  a  remarkable  man;  and 


14  BUFFALO    BILL 

the  Hon.  W.  F.  Cody,  known  as 'Buffalo  Bill;  guide, 
scout,  hunter,  trapper,  Indian  fighter,  and  legislator, 
is  a  remarkable  man.  He  is  a  perfect  horseman,  an 
unerring  shot,  a  man  of  magnificent  presence  and 
physique,  ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  fear  or  fatigue; 
his  life  is  a  history  of  hairbreadth  escapes,  and  deeds 
of  daring,  generosity  and  self-sacrifice,  which  com- 
pare very  favorably  with  the  chivalric  actions  of 
romance,  and  he  has  been  not  unappropriately  desig- 
nated the  'Bayard  of  the  Plains.'" 

Buffalo  Bill  was  personally  honored  by  calls  from 
the  Right  Hon.  W.  E.  Gladstone  and  other  distin- 
guished statesmen  of  the  realm  and  then  commenced 
a  long  series  of  invitations  to  breakfast,  dinners, 
luncheons,  and  midnight  layouts,  garden  parties  and 
all  the  other  attentions  by  which  London  society 
delights  to  honor  what  it  is  pleased  to  call  the  dis- 
tinguished foreigner. 

A  writer  in  the  London  Sporting  Life^  thus  con- 
cludes a  laudatory  notice  of  the  Wild  West  opening 
performance: 

"The  opening  of  the  Wild  West  Show  was  one  of 
the  most  signal  successes  of  recent  years.  Such  a 
vast  concourse  of  the  cream — or  it  may  be  as  well  to 
say  the  creme  de  la  creme — of  society  is  seldom  seen 
at  any  performance.  The  number  of  chariots  waiting 
at  the  gates  outnumbered  those  of  Pharaoh,  and  the 
phalanx  of  footmen  constituted  quite  a  small  army. 
There  is  much  in  the  Wild  West  show  to  please. 


AS    THE    WORLD    KNOWS    HIM  !« 

There  is  novelty  of  incident,  wonderful  tone,  color, 
dexterous  horsemanship,  and  a  breezy  independence 
of  manner,  which  latter  quality,  by  the  way,  is  not 
entirely  confined  to  the  dramatis  personce.  It  is  new, 
it  is  brilliant  it  is  startling,  it  will  *go!*" 

The  concluding  performance  was  thus  noticed  by 
the  London  Times, 

"The  Wild  West  Exhibition,  which  has  attracted 
all  the  town  to  West  Brompton  for  the  last  few 
months,  was  brought  yesterday  to  an  appropriate 
and  dignified  close.  A  meeting  of  representative 
Englishmen  and  Americans  was  held,  under  the  pres- 
idency of  Lord  Lome,  in  support  of  the  movement 
for  establishing  a  Court  of  Arbitration  for  the  settle- 
ment of  disputes  between  this  country  and  the  United 
States.  At  first  sight  it  might  seem  to  be  a  far  cry 
from  the  Wild  West  to  an  International  Court.  Yet 
the  connection  is  not  really  very  remote.  Exhibi- 
tions of  American  products  and  of  a  few  scenes  from 
the  wilder  phases  of  American  life  certainly  tend  in 
some  degree  at  least  to  bring  America  nearer  to 
England.  They  are  partly  cause  and  partly  effect. 
They  are  the  effect  of  increased  and  increasing  inter- 
course between  the  two  countries,  and  they  tend  to 
promote  a  still  more  intimate  understanding.  The 
two  things,  the  Exhibition  and  the  Wild  West  Show, 
have  supplemented  each  other.  Those  who  went  to 
be  amused  often  stayed  to  be  instructed.  It  must  be 
acknowledged  that  the  show  was  the  attraction  which 


l6  BUFFALO   SILL 

made  the  fortune  of  the  Exhibition.  Without  Colonel 
Cody,  his  cowboys,  and  his  Indians,  it  is  conceivable 
that  the  Exhibition  might  have  reproduced  the  Wild 
West  in  one  feature  at  any  rate — namely,  its  solitude 
— v^ith  rare  fidelity.  But  the  Wild  West  was  irresist- 
ible. Colonel  Cody,  much  to  the  astonishment  of 
some  of  his  more  superfine  compatriots,  suddenly 
found  himself  the  hero  of  the  London  season.  Not- 
withstanding his  daily  engagements  and  his  punctual 
fulfillment  of  them,  he  found  time  to  go  everywhere, 
to  see  everything,  and  to  be  seen  by  all  the  world. 
All  London  contributed  to  his  triumph,  and  now  the 
close  of  his  show  is  selected  as  the  occasion  for  pro-- 
moting  a  great  international  movement  with  Mr. 
Bright,  Lord  Granville,  Lord  Wolseley,  and  Lord 
Lome  for  its  sponsors.  Colonel  Cody  can  achieve 
no  greater  triumph  than  this,  even  if  he  some  day 
realizes  the  design  attributed  to  him  of  running  the 
Wild  West  Show  within  the  classic  precincts  of  the 
Colosseum  at  Rome." 

From  all  of  which  it  appears  that  Buffalo  Bill  and 
his  wonderful  Wild  West  exhibition  proved  a  howling 
success  in  the  British  metropolis. 

From  London  the  Wild  West  aggregation  of  two 
hundred  people,  with  the  numerous  horses,  buffaloes 
and  wild  steers,  moved  on  in  triumphal  march  to 
Birmingham,  and  thence  to  Manchester,  where  it  was 
attended  by  people  from  all  parts  of  England,  and 
Buffalo  Bill  and  his  wonderful  Wild  West  riders  soon 


BOYHOOD   DAYS  17 

became  a  familiar  theme  and  marvel  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  Great  Britain. 

To-day,  the  world  over,  Buffalo  Bill,  in  the  minds 
of  men,  women  and  children,  is  the  typical  American 
pioneer,  guide,  scout,   Indian  fighter  and  plainsman. 

It  is  but  natural,  therefore,  that  the  world  should 
be  eager  to  learn  all  that  can  be  told  regarding  the 
career  of  this  remarkable  American. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BOYHOOD  DAYS. 

William  Frederick  Cody,  more  generally  known  as 
Honorable  W.  F.  Cody,  and  famous  the  world  over 
as  "Buffalo  Bill,"  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Iowa, 
February  26,  1845. 

His  father,  Isaac  Cody,  was  a  farmer,  in  a  small 
way,  and  with  his  wife  Ann  Cody,  lived  in  a  little  log 
cabin  on  his  farm  in  the  Scott  county  backwoods,  at 
that  time  regarded  as  a  part  of  the  Far  West  wilder- 
ness. 

Mr.  Cody  did  not  find  farming  in  Scott  county  a 
very  profitable  business,  so,  when  Billy  was  about 
five  years  old,  determined  to  "get  out  of  the  wilder- 
ness," and  moved  with  his  family  to  the  little  village 
of  Le  Clair,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  some  fifteen 
miles  north  of  Davenport. 


l8  BUFFALO    BILL 

At  Le  Clair  Billy  was  sent  to  school,  but  did  not 
attend  very  regularly,  as  he  found  it  much  pleasanter, 
without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of  his  parents,  to 
go  skiff-riding  on  the  father  of  waters. 

But  he  did  not  long  have  the  opportunity  to  do 
either,  for  after  residing  at  Le  Clair  for  only  two 
years,  Billy's  father  again  determined  to  make  a  move, 
and  packing  his  family  and  possessions  into  a  carriage 
and  three  "mover  wagons"  he  started  for  the  then 
Territory  of  Kansas. 

After  a  journey  of  much  interest  to  all,  especially 
to  Billy,  across  the  plains  of  Iowa  and  over  the  hills 
of  Missouri,  the  family  arrived  in  good  shape  at 
"NVeston,  a  small  town  on  the  border  Ime  between 
Missouri  and  Kansas,  where  Billy's  uncle,  Elijah 
Cody,  a  well-to-do  merchant,  resided.  Here  the 
family  remained,  movmg  upon  one  of  Elijah's  farms, 
while  Billy's  father  crossed  the  line  into  Kansas  and 
established  a  trading  post  of  the  Kickapoo  Indian 
Agency  at  Salt  Creek  Valley. 

When  Billy  was  eight  years  old  his  father  bought 
him  a  pony,  which  at  once  gave  Billy  an  occupation 
and  a  pastime,  for  he  combined  business  with  pleas- 
ure, and  with  the  aid  of  his  pony,  made  himself  use- 
ful to  his  father  in  a  number  of  ways. 

There  were  many  ready  and  rough  riders  at  Kicka- 
poo then,  and  Billy  soon  learned  to  be  a  pretty  good 
horseman.  But  his  pony  continued  to  be  stubborn 
and  unsubmissive.     One  day  a  company  of  eight  men 


BOYHOOD    DAYS  I9 

cams  into  the  vicinity  of  Mr.  Cody's  trading  post, 
driving  a  herd  of  several  hundred  horses  which  they 
had  taken  wild  in  California  and  driven  across  the 
plains.  One  of  the  men  watched  Billy  as  he  was 
trying  to  pet  his  fractious  pony  into  submissiveness. 

"Here,  my  lad,"  said  the  man.  "I  can  break  that 
pony  for  you,"  and  making  a  slip  noose,  he  passed  it 
over  the  pony's  nose  and  springing  lightly  upon  his 
back,  dashed  away  over  the  prairie  and  kept  the  pony 
upon  a  run  until  he  was  completely  exhausted. 
Riding  up  to  where  Billy  and  his  father  stood  he 
sprang  to  the  ground,  passed  the  lariat  to  Billy,  and 
said: 

"He  is  all  right  now.     Get  on  and  ride  him." 

While  Billy  went  away  to  care  for  his  pony,  his 
father  drew  the  stranger  out  into  conversation,  and 
found  he  had  been  a  great  wanderer,  that  he  had 
been  in  Australia,  had  served  a  time  as  a  circus  rider, 
had  spent  several  years  in  California,  hunting  and 
capturing  wild  horses,  and  was  then  on  his  way  td 
Weston,  Missouri,  to  visit  his  uncle,  Elijah  Cody: 

"What  is  your  name?"  asked  Mr.  Cody  in  surprise. 

"Horace  Billings." 

"Then  you  are  my  nephew,  the  son  of  my  sister 
Sophia.     I  am  Isaac  Cody,  brother  of  Elijah  Cody !" 

The  discovery  was  mutually  pleasant,  and  Billy 
was  called  up  and  introduced  to  his  cousin  Horace. 
Henceforward  they  were  fast  and  inseparable  friends, 
the  one  being,  however,  only  a  lad  about  nine  years 


20  BUFFALO   BILL 

old,  while  the  other  was  a  tall,  handsome  man, 
measuring  in  height  six  feet  and  two  inches. 

Billings  was  an  accomplished  horseman,  and  took 
especial  pride  and  pleasure  in  teaching  the  boy  the 
art  of  horsemanship,  together  with  the  use  of  the 
lasso. 

The  United  States  had  lost  about  three  hundred 
horses  on  the  Kansas  plains  by  stampede,  and  a 
reward  of  ten  dollars  a  head  was  offered  for  their 
capture  and  return  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  Billings 
and  Billy  roamed  the  plains,  chasing  these  semi-wild 
horses,  and  young  Cody  soon  was  proficient  in  the 
science  and  art  of  horsemanship. 

In  the  meantime  the  Indian  boys  who  visited  his 
father's  trading  post,  had  taught  him  to  use  the  bow 
and  arrow,  and  from  them  he  had  learned  to  talk  in 
the  Kickapoo  language. 

In  1854  the  bill  known  as  the  "Enabling  Act  of 
Kansas  Territory"  passed  Congress.  Immediately 
thousands  of  people  poured  into  Kansas  to  pre-empt 
land  claims.  Among  these  were  hundreds  of  Missou- 
rians  who  were  very  loud  in  their  declarations  that 
Kansas  should  be  made  a  slave  state,  as  was  Missouri. 
Excitement  ran  high.  The  question  was  the  one 
theme  of  conversation  wherever  a  company  of  men 
were  assembled.  At  one  of  these  impromptu  gather- 
ings Mr.  Cody  was  called  upon  for  his  views.  He 
was  quite  a  politician,  and  in  Iowa  was  considered  a 
good  stump  speaker. 


BOYHOOD    DAYS  tl 

He  got  upon  a  box  and  began  to  express  his  views 
in  mild  language,  but  insisting  that  Kansas  ought  to 
be  kept  "white,"  and  slavery  not  to  be  allowed  to  fill 
the  state  with  negroes.  This  ingenious  argument  in 
behalf  of  freedom  did  not  "take"  very  well  with  his 
audience,  and  encouraged  by  the  shouts  of  disap- 
proval from  the  crowd,  a  ruffian  jumped  upon  the  box 
where  Mr.  Cody  stood,  and  drawing  a  large  bowie 
knife  plunged  it  into  the  speaker's  breast  twice,  and 
would  have  killed  him  had  not  some  of  the  more 
humane  spectators  interfered  in  his  behalf. 

Mr.  Cody  recovered  from  his  wounds,  but  was 
compelled  to  flee  from  the  country  to  escape  death 
by  hanging  at  the  hands  of  the  pro-slavery  border 
ruffians.  He  went  to  Grasshopper  Falls,  thirty-five 
miles  west  of  Fort  Leavenworth,  but  was  pursued  by 
his  enemies  even  there,  and  would  have  been  sur- 
prised and  killed,  had  not  Billy  discovered  their  inten- 
tions, and,  in  a  wild  ride  of  many  miles,  mounted  on 
his  pony,  most  of  the  time  pursued  by  the  would-be 
lynchers,  warned  his  father  in  time  for  him  to  escape 
to  Lawrence,  where  he  was  made  a  member  of  the 
first  legislature  of  Kansas,  and  assisted  in  organizing 
the  territory  into  a  State. 

When  Billy  was  but  ten  years  old,  he  hired  out  to 
Mr.  Russell,  of  Leavenworth,  to  herd  cattle,  and 
received  for  his  services  the  munificent  sum  of  twenty- 
five  dollars  per  month,  besides  his  board.  At  the 
end  of  two  months  he  went  back  home,  carrying  with 


93  BUFFALO    BILL 

him  one  hundred  silver  half  dollars,  his  salary  as 
cattle  herder.  His  mother  received  him  joyfully, 
although  he  had  run  away  to  accept  the  position,  not 
being  able  to  get  his  mother's  consent.  He  afterward 
spent  seven  years  in  the  service  of  the  same  man,  in 
the  several  capacities  of  pony  express,  wagon  master, 
cattle  driver,  etc. 

About  this  time  he  got  into  a  difficulty  with  a 
schoolmate  on  account  of  having  the  same  girl  for  a 
sweetheart.  Billy  and  his  sweetheart  would  spend 
the  hours  of  intermission  from  study  at  school  in 
building  bowers  for  a  mimic  home.  The  other  boy 
took  delight  in  tearing  these  houses  down  as  fast  as 
Billy  could  build  them.  The  finale  was  a  school  boy 
fight  in  which  Billy  used  a  dirk,  inflicting  an  ugly 
but  not  dangerous  wound  upon  his  rival's  leg.  To 
avoid  the  punishment  he  knew  to  be  in  store  for  him 
when  the  teacher  discovered  his  act,  he  fled,  and  did 
not  stop  until  he  intercepted  a  government  train  of 
freight  wagons  which  he  had  noticed  creeping  slowly 
along  over  the  prairie.  Fortunately  he  was  acquainted 
with  one  of  the  teamsters,  and  in  him  found  a  sym- 
pathizing friend,  who,  when  camp  was  made  for  the 
night,  mounted  a  horse  and  taking  Billy  up,  rode 
back  to  Mrs.  Cody's  and  obtained  permission  of  her 
to  take  the  young  fugitive  on  his  trip,  to  be  gone 
about  forty  days.  She  finally  agreed  to  the  arrange- 
ment. When  Billy  returned,  he  found  his  mother 
bad  succeeded  in  pacifying  the  father  of  the  bey   he 


BOYHOOD    DAYS  2^ 

had  wounded.  Even  Billy  made  friends  with  him, 
and  the  friendship  yet  remains  between  the  two,  a 
lasting  monument  of  the  gentle  and  benign  influence 
of  a  mother's  love  and  foresight. 

In  April,  1857,  Billy's  father  died  of  kidney  disease. 
Billy  then  determined  to  follow  the  life  of  a  plains- 
man to  obtain  means  to  assist  his  mother  in  caring 
for  the  family. 

The  following  month  he  found  employment  with 
Mr.  Russell  and  his  partners,  and  started  for  Salt 
Lake  City  with  a  herd  of  cattle  for  the  United  States 
troops  sent  out  to  fight  the  Mormons.  It  was  on 
this  journey  that  Billy  received  his  initiation  as  an 
Indian  fighter  and  killed  his  first  Indian,  though  at 
the  time  but  eleven  years  of  age.  His  own  account 
of  the  matter,  as  given  in  his  autobiography,  is  a9 
follows: 

"Nothing  occurred  to  interrupt  our  journey  until 
we  reached  Plum  Creek,  on  the  South  Platte  River, 
thirty-five  miles  west  of  Old  Fort  Kearney.  We 
had  made  a  morning  drive  and  had  camped  for  dinner. 
The  wagon  master  and  the  majority  of  the  men  had 
gone  to  sleep  under  the  mess  wagons.  The  cattle 
were  being  guarded  by  three  men,  and  the  cook  was 
preparing  dinner.  No  one  had  an  idea  that  the 
Indians  were  anywhere  near  us.  The  first  warning 
we  had  was  the  firing  of  shots  and  the  whoops  and 
yells  from  a  party  of  them,  who,  watching  us  napping, 
gave  us  a  most  unwelcome    surprise.      All    the    men 


24  BUFFALO    BILL 

jumped  to  their  feet  and  seized  their  guns.  They 
saw  in  astonishment  the  cattle  running  in  every 
direction,  they  having  been  stampeded  by  the  Indians, 
who'had  killed  the  three  men  who  were  on  day  herd 
duty,  and  the  red  devils  were  now  charging  down  on 
the  rest  of  us. 

"I  then  thought  of  mother's  fear  of  my  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  Indians,  and  I  had  about  made  up 
my  mind  that  such  was  to  be  my  fate;  but  when  I 
saw  how  coolly  and  determinedly  the  McCarthy 
brothers  were  conducting  themselves,  and  giving 
orders  to  the  little  band,  I  became  convinced  that  we 
would  stand  the  Indians  off,  as  the  saying  is.  Our 
men  were  all  well  armed  with  colts  revolvers  and 
Mississippi  ^yagers, '  which  last  carried  a  bullet  and 
two  buckshots. 

"The  McCarthy  boys,  at  the  proper  moment,  gave 
orders  to  fire  upon  the  advancing  enemy.  The  volley 
checked  them,  although  they  returned  the  compli- 
ment, and  shot  one  of  our  party  through  the  leg. 
Frank  McCarthy  then  sung  out,  'Boys,  make  a  break 
for  the  slough  yonder,  and  we  can  then  have  the  bank 
for  a  breastwork. ' 

"We  made  a  run  for  the  slough,  which  was  only  a 
short  distance  off,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  it  safely, 
bringing  with  us  the  wounded  man.  The  bank  proved 
<"o  be  a  very  effective  breastwork,  affording  us  good 
protection.  We  had  been  there  but  a  short  time 
when  Frank  McCarthy,  seeing   that   the   longer   we 


BOYHOOD    DAYS  2$ 

were  coralled  the  worse   it  would  be  for  us,  said: 

"'Well,  boys,  we  will  try  to  make  our  way  back 
to  Fort  Kearney  by  wading  in  the  river  and  keeping 
the  bank  for  a  breastwork 

"We  all  agreed  that  this  was  the  best  plan,  and 
accordingly  proceeded  down  the  river  several  miles 
in  this  way,  managing  to  keep  the  Indians  at  a  safe 
distance  with  our  guns,  until  the  slough  made  a  junc- 
tion with  the  Platte  River.  From  there  down  we 
found  the  river  at  times  quite  deep,  and  in  order  to 
carry  the  wounded  man  along  with  us,  we  constructed 
a  raft  of  poles  for  his  accommodation,  and  in  this 
way  he  was  transported. 

"Occasionally  the  water  would  be  too  deep  for  us 
to  wade,  and  we  were  obliged  to  put  our  weapons  on 
the  raft  and  swim.  The  Indians  followed  us  pretty 
close,  and  were  continually  watching  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  get  a  good  range  and  give  us  a  raking  fire. 
Covering  ourselves  by  keeping  well  under  the  bank, 
we  pushed  ahead  as  rapidly  as.  possible,  and  made 
pretty  good  progress,  the  night  iinding  us  still  on  our 
way,  and  the  enemies  still  on  our  track. 

"I  being  the  youngest  and  the  smallest  of  the  party, 
became  somewhat  tired,  and  without  noticing  it,  I 
had  fallen  behind  the  others  for  some  little  distance. 
It  was  about  ten  o'clock  and  we  were,  keeping  very 
quiet  and  hugging  close  to  the  bank,  when  I  happened 
to  look  up  to  the  moon-lit  sky  and  saw  the  plumed 
head  of  an  Indian  peeping  over   the    bank.     Instead 


26  BUFFALO    BILL 

of  hurrying  on  and  alarming  the  men  in  a  quiet  way, 
I  instantly  aimed  my  gun  at  the  head  and  fired.  The 
report  rang  out  sharp  and  loud  on  the  night  air,  and 
was  immediately  followed  by  an  Indian  whoop,  and 
the  next  moment  about  six  feet  of  dead  Indian  came 
tumbling  into  the  river.  I  was  not  only  overcome 
with  astonishment,  but  was  badly  scared,  as  I  could 
hardly  realize  what  I  had  done.  I  expected  to  see 
the  whole  force  of  Indians  come  down  upon  us. 
While  I  was  standing  thus  bewildered  the  men  who 
had  heard  the  shot  and  the  war  whoop,  and  had  seen 
the  Indian  take  a  tumble,  came  rushing  back. 

"'Who  fired  that  shot?'  cried  Frank  McCarthy. 

"*I  did,'  replied  I  rather  proudly,  as  my  confidence 
returned,  and  I  saw  the  men  coming  up. 

"*Yes,  and  little  Billy  has  killed  an  Indian  stone 
dead, — too  dead  to  skin,"  said  one  of  the  men,  who 
had  approached  nearer  than  the  rest,  and  had  nearly 
stumbled  upon  the  corpse.  From  that  time  on  I  be- 
came a  hero  and  an  Indian  killer.  This  was  of  course 
the  first  Indian  I  had  ever  shot,  and  my  exploit 
created  quite  a  sensation. 

"The  other  Indians  upon  learning  what  had  hap- 
pened to  their  *  advance  guard, '  set  up  a  terrible 
howling,  and  fired  several  volleys  at  us,  but  without 
doing  any  injury,  as  we  were  well  protected  by  the 
bank.  We  resumed  our  journey  down  the  river  and 
traveled  all  night.  We  reached  Fort  Kearney  just 
after  the  reveille — bringing  the  wounded  man  with 


EXCITING    ADVENTURES  2J 

US.  The  commandant  at  once  ordered  a  company 
out  to  endeavor  to  recapture  the  cattle  from  the 
Indians.  The  troops  followed  the  trail  to  the  head 
of  Plum  Creek  and  there  abandoned  it,  without 
having  seen  a  single  red  skin." 


CHAPTER  III. 

EXCITING  ADVENTURES. 

In  the  following  summer  Billy  made  arrangements 
to  make  another  trip  across  the  plains,  in  the  capacity 
of  "extra  hand"  to  the  wagonmaster  of  a  train  that 
was  to  transport  supplies  for  the  army  of  General 
Albert  Sidney  Johnson,  that  had  been  sent  out  to 
Salt  Lake  to  look  after  the  Mormons. 

The  wagonmaster' s  name  was  Lew  Simpson,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  most  trusty  teamsters  that  ever 
commanded  a  bull-train.  Simpson  had  known  Billy 
for  quite  a  while,  and  he  knew  that  he  was  certain  to 
obtain  the  latter' s  consent  to  make  the  trip  with 
him  across  the  plains,  though  at  that  time  such  a 
journey  was  exceedingly  perilous. 

When  Simpson  proposed  the  matter  to  Billy,  he 
was  wild  to  go,  but  his  mother  interposed  an  em- 
phatic objection  and  urged  him  to  abandon  so  reckless 
a  desire.  She  reminded  him  that  in  addition  to  the 
faet  that  the  trip  would  possibly  occupy  a  year,  the 


28  BUFFALO    BILL 

journey  was  one  of  extreme  peril,  beset  as  it  was  by 
Mormon  assassins  and  treacherous  Indians,  and 
begged  him  to  accept  the  lesson  of  his  last  experience 
and  narrow  escape  as  a  providential  warning.  But  to 
her  pleading  and  remonstrances  Billy  returned  the 
answer  that  he  had  determined  to  follow  the  plains 
as  an  occupation,  and  while  he  appreciated  her  advice 
and  desired  greatly  to  honor  her  commands,  yet  he 
could  not  on  any  account  give  up  his  determination 
to  accompany  the  train. 

Finding  it  was  impossible  to  move  Billy  from  his 
determined  purpose  to  accompany  Simpson  at  all 
hazards,  Mrs.  Cody  reluctantly  gave  her  consent, 
but  not  until  she  had  called  upon  Simpson  and  secured 
from  him  the  promise  that  he  would  take  the  best 
of  care  of  her  precious  boy. 

So  Billy,  after  arranging  with  his  employers  that 
when  his  pay  fell  due  it  should  be  turned  over  to  his 
mother,  set  out  with  Simpson  and  his  train  of  ten 
wagons  direct  for  Salt  Lake. 

A  description  of  the  wagon  trains  that  carried 
freight  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  Salt  Lake  City, 
will  interest  the  reader. 

The  wagons  were  huge  affairs  and  strongly  built, 
being  capable  of  carrying  something  over  seven 
thousand  pounds  of  merchandise.  They  were  pro- 
vided with  a  double  canvas  cover  stretched  over  bows 
to  protect  the  freight  from  rain  The  wagons  were 
drawn  by  oxen,  several  yokes  of  them  being  attached 


EXCITING   ADVENTURES  29 

to  one  wagon.  Each  team  had  a  driver.  The  train 
consisted  of  twenty-five  drivers,  one  wagonmaster 
who  had  control  of  the  entire  cavalcade,  one  assistant 
wagonmaster,  one  "extra  hand,"  one  night  herder, 
one  cavallard  driver,  whose  duty  it  was  to  drive  the 
loose  animals.  This  company  was  divided  into 
messes  of  seven  persons  each,  and  each  mess  did  its 
own  cooking.  One  of  the  men  would  cook,  another 
get  water,  another  wood,  while  another  stood  guard, 
and  so  on,  each  having  a  particular  duty  to  perform. 
The  entire  company  was  heavily  armed  with  revol- 
vers and  rifles,  and  always  had  their  weapons  handy 
in  case  of  emergency.  The  wagonmaster,  in  the 
language  of  the  plains,  was  known  as  the  "bull- 
wagon  boss,"  the  teamsters  were  known  as  the  "bull 
whackers,"  and  the  whole  train  as  the  "bull  outfit." 
The  company  for  which  Billy  was  working  had  two 
hundred  and  fifty  "outfits,"  which  consisted  of  6,000 
wagons,  75,000  oxen,  and  8,000  men.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  position  Billy  was  called  to  fill  was 
no  mean  one,  and  the  wages  paid,  fifty  dollars  per 
month  in  gold,  was  a  prize  to  be  coveted. 

The  trip  from  the  outset  was  full  of  interest  to 
Billy.  The  country  through  which  they  passed 
fairly  swarmed  with  buffaloes,  and  the  train  laid  over 
one  day  for  a  grand  bison  hunt.  They  killed  quite  a 
number  of  buffaloes,  captured  a  number  of  stray  cattle 
— a  portion  of  a  herd  that  the  Indians  had  stampeded 
— and  enjoyed  a  day  of  rare  sport. 


30  BUFFALO    BILL 

The  next  morning  the  train  resumed  its  onward 
journey  towards  great  Salt  Lake.  The  train  was 
strung  out  to  a  considerable  length  along  the  road 
which  ran  near  the  foot  of  the  sand-hills,  two  miles 
from  the  South  Platte  River.  Then  and  there  it  was 
that  Billy  first  witnessed  a  buffalo  stampede.  In  his 
autobiography,  Buffalo  Bill  thus  describes  the  exciting 
scene:  "Between  the  road  and  the  river  we  saw  a 
large  herd  of  buffaloes  grazing  quietly,  they  having 
been  down  to  the  stream  for  a  drink.  Just  at  this 
time  we  observed  a  party  of  returning  Californians 
coming  from  the  west.  They,  too,  noticed  the  bufTalo 
herd,  and  in  another  moment  they  were  dashing  down 
upon  them,  urging  their  steeds  to  the  greatest  speed. 
The  buffalo  herd  stampeded  at  once  and  broke  down 
the  hills;  so  hotly  were  they  pursued  by  the  hunters 
that  about  five  hundred  of  them  rushed  through  our 
train  pell-mell,  frightening  both  men  and  oxen.  Some 
of  the  wagons  were  turned  clear  round,  and  many  of 
the  terrified  oxen  attempteid  to  run  to  the  hills,  with 
the  heavy  wagon  attached  to  them.  Others  turned 
around  so- short  that  they  broke  the  wagon  tongues 
off.  Nearly  all  the  teams  got  entangled  in  their 
gearing,  and  became  wild  and  unruly,  so  that  the 
perplexed  drivers  were  unable  to  manage  them 

"The  buffaloes,  the  cattle  and  the  drivers  were 
soon  running  in  every  direction,  and  the  excitement 
upset  nearly  everybody  and  everything.  Many  of 
the  cattle  broke  their  yokes  and  stampeded.     One 


EXCITING   ADVENTURES  3X 

big  buffalo  bull  became  entangled  in  one  of  the  heavy 
wagon-chains,  and  it  is  a  fact  that  in  his  desperate 
efforts  to  free  himself  he  not  only  actually  snapped 
the  strong  chain  in  two,  but  broke  the  ox-yoke  to 
which  it  was  attached,  and  the  last  seen  of  him  he 
was  running  towards  the  hills  with  it  hanging  from 
his  horns.  A  dozen  other  equally  remarkable  inci- 
dents happened  during  the  short  time  that  the  frantic 
buffaloes  were  playing  havoc  with  our  train,  and 
when  they  got  through  and  left  us  our  outfit  was  badly 
crippled  and  scattered." 

Nothing  further  of  special  interest  occurred  to  the 
train  until  it  arrived  within  a  few  miles  of  Green 
River  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Here  the  company 
was  surprised  by  Joe  Smith  and  a  squad  of  Danites 
from  the  Mormons,  who  were  permitted  to  ride  into 
the  camp  while  at  noonday  halt,  as  the  wagonmaster 
and  drivers  supposed  them  to  be  a  lot  of  Califor- 
nians  going  East.  The  trainmen  were  given  one  wagon, 
some  provisions,  and  their  arms  and  six  yoke  of  oxen, 
and  told  to  put  back  to  Fort  Bridger.  They  could  do 
nothing  but  obey.  They  tarried,  however,  and  saw 
the  entire  train  of  twenty-four  wagons,  and  the  loads 
of  hard  tack,  bacon,  ammunition  and  other  supplies 
for  Gen.  Johnson's  army,  burned  to  ashes. 

They  finally  reached  Fort  Bridger,  but  there  were 
gathered  three  or  four  hundred  men  in  the  employ  of 
the  Freight  Company,  besides  the  garrison  of  the 
United  States  troops. 


32  BUFFALO    BILL 

Winter  now  set  in,  and  provisions  were  scarce. 
The  men  were  reduced  to  three  quarter  rations,  and 
then  to  one  half  rations,  and  finally  to  one  quarter. 
As  a  last  resort  they  killed  and  ate  the  oxen,  which 
by  this  time  had  been  reduced  to  skin  and  bones, 
and  as  these  failed  to  supply  the  demand,  mules  were 
also  killed  and  portioned  out  to  the  half-famished 
men  and  soldiers.  When  mules  and  oxen  were  gone, 
the  wood  for  fuel  was  brought  from  the  mountains 
by  men,  twenty  or  more  of  whom  would  drag  a  wagon 
loaded  with  fuel.  Spring,  though,  came  at  last,  and 
with  it  a  move  to  Fort  Laramie.  Here  another  train 
was  organized  to  return  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  On 
this  trip,  Billy,  Simpson  and  his  assistant,  rode 
ahead  of  the  train  to  overtake  one  that  had  a  day's 
start.  These  three  were  attacked  by  forty  Indians. 
Simpson  immediately  dismounted  and  had  the  other 
two  do  the  same.  The  mules  were  killed,  and  behind 
these  the  three  lay  all  day  and  all  night,  keeping  the 
Indians  at  bay  with  their  rifles  and  revolvers  as  they 
were  armed  only  with  bows  and  arrows.  However, 
the  assistant  wagonmaster  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  shoulder  by  an  arrow.  Next  day  about  lo  o'clock 
the  train  arrived,  and  the  Indians  suddenly  departed, 
leaving  on  the  field  four  dead  companions. 

Billy  finally  reached  home  in  safety,  to  the  great 
joy  of  his  mother  and  sister. 

The  next  move  Billy  made,  was  to  join  a  party  of 
trappers  who  intended  to  trap  for  beaver  and  otter, 


ON   A   TRAPPING    EXPEDITIOK  33 

and  kill  wolves  for  their  pelts.  This  business  proved 
unprofitable,  and  was  abandoned  after  two  months. 
He  then  returned  home  and  remained  about  three 
months,  attending  the  neighborhood  school. 

When  spring  came  again,  he  joined  a  party  bound 
for  Pike's  Peak,  the  then  newly  discovered  gold  field. 
Two  months  of  prospecting  was  all  he  could  stand, 
and  he  then  concluded  he  was  not  cut  out  for  a  miner. 

The  next  business  in  which  he  engaged,  was  pony 
express  rider.  This  was  at  that  time  a  new  business 
on  the  plains.  He  was  obliged  to  ride  forty-five 
miles  in  three  hours,  and  change  horses  three  times. 
He  continued  in  this  work  two  months  or  more, 
during  which  time  he  never  failed  to  make  his  trips 
according  to  schedule.  It  was  very  hard  on  him,  and 
he  gave  it  up  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  his  mother. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ON  A  TRAPPING  EXPEDITION. 

Billy's  restless  spirit  could  not  be  satisfied  with 
the  seemingly  humdrum  life  of  a  farmer,  and  soon  he 
went  on  a  trapping  expedition  up  the  Republican 
River  and  its  tributaries  in  company  with  Dave 
Harrington.  They  were  very  successful,  and  had 
many  trophies  of  their  skill,  when  Billy,  unfortunately, 
slipped  on  the  ice  while  creeping  toward   a   herd  of 


34  BUFFALO    BILL 

elk  around  the  bend  of  a  sharp  bluff,  and  fell  heavily, 
breaking  his  leg  just  above  the  ankle.  This  left  the 
two  trappers  in  anything  but  an  enviable  situation. 
Dave  played  the  surgeon  and  rather  skilfully  set  the 
broken  bone.  The  prospect  was  dreary  enough. 
They  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  from 
the  nearest  settlement.  Rather  than  remain  in  that 
dreary  region  through  the  winter,  Billy  persuaded 
Dave  to  go  to  the  settlement,  get  an  ox-team,  return 
and  take  him  home.  This  he  consented  to  do,  and 
left  on  his  long  tramp,  after  providing  fuel  and  food 
to  last  his  friend  Bill  until  he  should  return.  This  he 
expected  to  do  in  about  twenty  days.  The  house 
where  Bill  now  lay  was  a  "dug-out,"  a  hole  made  in 
the  ground,  covered  with  poles,  upon  which  were 
placed  grass,  leaves  and  other  similar  materials.  To 
be  thus  situated  was  bad  enough  for  a  well  man,  and 
far  worse  for  a  boy  in  Billy's  condition.  The  days 
dragged  slowly  by  until  twelve  of  them  had  been 
passed.  One  day  at  this  time,  Billy  was  awakened 
from  sleep  by  some  one  standing  by  his  bed  and 
touching  his  arm.  He  opened  his  eyes,  and  saw 
looking  into  his  face,  the  hideous  outline  of  a  huge 
Indian  warrior,  all  painted  and  bedecked  for  war. 
Through  the  door  other  Indians  were  crowding, 
and  outside  the  dug-out,  Billy  heard  the  tramping  of 
horses  and  the  voices  of  those  who  could  not  get  into 
the  little  room.  He  knew  they  were  on  the  war-path 
and  would  not  hesitate  to  put   him   to  death  after 


ON   A   TRAPPING    EXPEDITION  35 

subjecting  him  to  such  torture  as  their  devilish  inge- 
nuity could  invent.  They  were  not  in  a  hurry,  how- 
ever, to  execute  their  plans  against  him,  but  proceeded 
to  investigate  the  hut  and  contents.  They  very 
deliberately  set  about  cooking  what  food  they  wanted 
and  could  find  at  hand,  taking  special  pains  to  use 
all  his  tea,  coffee,  and  sugar.  He  watched  their 
movements  with  intense  interest,  but  could  find  no 
way  by  which  he  could  escape.  Finally,  an  old 
Indian  came  in,  and  Billy  was  rejoiced  to  see  that  he 
was  a  chief  whom  he  had  met  before.  The  recogni- 
tion was  mutual.  The  Indian  chief, — Rain-in-the- 
face,  could  speak  a  little  English,  and  Billy  could 
speak  a  little  Indian  language,  and  he  thus  succeeded 
in  securing  the  old  chief's  attention  and  sympathy. 
He  begged  that  his  life  might  be  spared,  and  food 
left  to  keep  him  from  starving.  The  chief  consulted 
his  warriors,  and  told  Billy  that  they  would  spare  bis 
life,  but  the  provisions  were  to  be  used.  He  then 
asked  them  to  let  him  keep  his  gun  and  pistol  as  a 
means  of  defense  from  wild  animals.  This  they 
would  not  consent  to  do,  as  one  of  their  number  had 
no  fire  arms,  and  greatly  admired  Billy's  outfit  in 
that  line.  They  staid  all  day  and  all  the  next  night, 
and  left  next  morning,  taking  all  Billy's  cooking 
utensils,  and  nearly  all  his  provisions.  He  was  glad, 
however,  to  see  them  leave  without  taking  his  life. 
A  heavy  snowstorm  now  set  in  and  completely  cov- 
ered the  dug-out.     At  night,  wolves  came  in  immense 


36  BUFFALO    BILL 

numbers,  howled  around  the  hut,  ran  over  the  top  of 
it,  scratched  for  an  entrance,  and  made  Billy's  blood 
run  cold  at  the  prospect  of  being  eaten  alive  by  half- 
starved  wolves  after  escaping  the  scalping  knife  of 
the  savages. 

The  twentieth  day  came,  the  day  appointed  for 
Harrington's  return.  Billy  counted  the  hours  as 
they  went  by,  and  waited  and  listened  for  the  welcome 
voice  of  his  tried  and  true  friend.  Night  came,  but 
Harrington  came  not.  A  whole  week  passed  beyond 
the  appointed  time,  and  Billy  was  still  alone.  Finally, 
on  the  twenty-ninth  day,  when  hope  was  about  dead, 
and  Billy  nearly  dead,  too,  he  heard  a  voice: 

"Hello,  Billy!" 

"All  right,  Dave!" 

"Well,  old  boy,  are  you  alive?" 

"Yes,  but  that  is  about  all.  I  have  bad  a  tough 
siege  of  it  since  you  went  away." 

This  conversation  was  carried  on  while  Dave  was 
digging  his  way  through  the  drifted  snow  to  the  door 
of  the  hut.  He  finally  pushed  the  door  open,  went 
in,  and  was  immediately  clasped  in  Billy's  arms.  He 
would  not  let  him  go,  but  hugged  him  time  and  again, 
meanwhile  telling  him  how  he  loved  him. 

"Well,  Billy,  my  boy,"  said  Dave,  "I  hardly 
expected  to  see  you  alive,  but  as  I  had  left  you  here, 
I  was  bound  to  come  through,  or  die  in  the  attempt." 

Again  Billy  threw  his  arm  around  Dave's  neck  and 
fell  upon  his  bosom  while  tears  of  joy  ran  down  his  face. 


/.M^fH^zCot^u 


RIDING   THE    PONY    EXPRESS  37 

Dave  then  sat  down  and  told  Billy  what  great  trials 
he  had  encountered  in  going  and  coming.  How  the 
snow  had  blocked  his  way;  how  the  oxen  had  wan- 
dered off,  and  what  a  weary  time  he  had  hunting 
them. 

The  two  fast  friends  soon  packed  up  what  little 
goods  the  Indians  had  left  them,  and  put  back  in  a 
wagon  drawn  by  the  team  of  oxen,  for  civilization. 
They  accomplished  the  return  trip,  and  Billy  was 
once  more  at  his  mother's  house.  Dave  Harrington 
accompanied  him.  Here  Dave  died,  being  tenderly 
nursed  by  Billy's  mother  and  sisters,  who  felt  that 
they  could  not  do  enough  for  one  who  had  done  so 
much  for  Billy.  But  his  disease  was  not  to  be  baffled, 
and  after  an  iimess  of  only  a  week  poor  Harrington 
died  of  pneumonia. 


CHAPTER  V. 

RIDING  THE  PONY  EXPRESS. 

A  short  time  after  the  death  of  his  friend  Harring. 
ton,  Billy  met  his  old  wagonmaster  and  friend.  Lew 
Simpson,  who  was  fitting  out  a  train  at  Atchison  and 
loading    it   with   supplies   for   the    Overland    Stage 
Company. 

"Come  along  with   me,  Billy,"  said  Simpson.  I'll 
give  you  a  good  lay-out.     I  want  you  with  me." 

"I  don't  know  that  I  would  like  to  go  so  far   west 


38  BUFFALO    BILL 

as  that  again,"  replied  Billy;  "but  I  do  want  to  ride* 
the  pony  express  once  more;  there  is  some  life  in 
that." 

Simpson  laughed  at  Billy's  hankering  for  further 
experience  in  the  pony  express  business,  but  told 
him  if  that  was  what  he  had  got  his  mind  set  on,  he 
had  better  come  with  him  to  Atchison  and  see  Mr. 
Russell,  who  would  be  pretty  certain  to  give  him  a 
situation. 

Billy  acceded  to  this  proposition,  and  was  given 
the  coveted  position  by  Mr.  Russell,  on  his  arrival  at 
Atchison.  He  was  assigned  to  a  route  seventy-six 
miles  long,  and  rode  with  ease  and  regularity.  One 
day  after  making  his  trip  he  found  the  rider  who  was 
to  continue  the  route  a  distance  of  eight-five  miles, 
was  drunk,  and  unable  to  go  out.  Billy  immediately 
mounted  a  fresh  pony,  and  started  on  the  drunken 
rider's  route.  He  made  the  ride  on  time,  having 
accomplished  322  miles  on  horseback  without  an 
hour's  rest.  It  is  the  greatest  feat  in  that  line  on 
record. 

A  short  time  after  making  this  trip,  Billy  was  riding 
along  the  same  route,  when  a  band  of  Sioux  Indians, 
armed  with  pistols,  dashed  out  from  behind  a  sand 
ravine,  and  gave  Billy  one  of  the  closest  calls  for  his 
scalp  he  had  ever  experienced  up  to  that  date.  But, 
very  fortunately  for  Billy,  and  for  the  pony  express 
company,  Billy's  horse  was  a  swifter  stepper  than 
any  of  those  ridden  by  the  Indians,  and   Billy   soon 


JUDING   THE    PONY    EXPRESS  39 

placed  a  very  safe  distance  between  himself  and  his 
pursuers.  When  he  arrived  at  Sweetwater,  the  first 
station  on  the  route  of  his  flight,  he  found  that  the 
Indians  had  raided  the  station,  killed  the  stock 
tender,  and  driven  off  all  the  horses  so  that  he  was 
compelled  to  continue  his  journey  without  a  fresh 
mount.  He  arrived  safely  at  Ploutz  Station,  twelve 
miles  further  on,  having  made  a  twenty-four  mile 
straight  run  without  change  of  horse. 

One  day  when  Billy  was  laying  off,  taking  the 
world  easy,  and  only  riding  when  other  riders  were 
disabled,  he  started  out  for  a  bear  hunt,  all  by  himself. 
He  rode  up  into  the  mountains  without  discovering 
any  bears,  and  not  wishing  to  return  without  any 
trophy  of  his  skill,  he  continued  to  ride  until  night 
came  on.  He  now  found  himself  many  miles  from 
headquarters,  and  in  a  wild  and  desolate  region. 
He  had  killed  two  sage  hens,  and  was  about  to 
make  a  fire  to  cook  one  of  them  for  supper,  when  he 
heard  the  neighing  of  a  horse.  He  sprang  to  his 
horse,  which  stood  near  by,  to  prevent  him  from 
answering,  as  is  usual  for  horses  to  do  under  such 
circumstances. 

He  was  now  quite  anxious  to  know  whether  the 
owner  of  the  horse  was  friend  or  foe.  He  made  a 
reconnoissance  and  saw  a  light  shining  at  a  little 
distance  from  him.  Approaching  the  light  he  found 
it  came  from  a  dug-out  in  the  mountain  side.  He 
drew  near  cautiously,  and  found  that   persons  were 


40  BUFFALO    BILL 

conversing  in  his  own  language.  He  was  glad  to  find 
that  the  occupants  were  white  men.  He  rapped  on 
the  door,  and  was  immediately  answered: 

"Who's  there?" 

"A  friend,  and  a  white  man." 

"Come  in." 

He  stepped  in  and  found  himself  in  the  midst  of 
as  rough  a  set  of  men  as  he  had  ever  met  in  all  his 
wanderings.  One  or  two  of  them  he  recognized  as 
formerly  teamsters  when  he  was  connected  with  the 
freight  trains  of  the  plains.  He  was  pleased  to  see 
that  they  did  not  recognize  him.  He  was  thoroughly 
surprised  and  frightened  by  his  unexpected  surround- 
ings, but  did  not  by  appearance  or  tone  of  voice  betray 
his  emotions.  He  wanted  to  get  away  from  them  as 
soon  as  possible. 

"Where  are  you  going,  young  man?"  said  one  of 
them. 

"I  am  on  a  bear  hunt." 

"Who  is  with  you?" 

"I  am  entirely  alone." 

"Where  are  you  from?" 

"I  left  Horseshoe  Station  this  morning." 

"How  came  you  here?" 

"Just  as  I  was  going  into  camp,  about  one  hundred 
yards  down  the  creek,  I  heard  one  of  your  horses 
whinny,  and  then  I  came  to  your  camp." 

"Where  is  your  horse?" 

•*I  left  him  down  the  creelt." 


RIDING    THE    PONY    EXPRESS  4X 

^Well,  we  will  send  for  him." 

"Captain,  I  will  leave  my  gun  here,  go  down  and 
get  my  horse,  and  return  and  stay  all  night.''' 

"Jim  and  I  will  go  with  you,"  said  one  of  the  men. 
"You  may  leave  your  gun  here.  You  will  not  need 
it." 

"All  right,  lead  the  way." 

Billy  now  knew  he  was  in  the  hands  of  a  band  of 
horse  thieves.  He  knew  that  he  would  never  get 
away  from  them  alive,  unless  he  escaped  that  hour. 
He  thought  fast,  and  soon  had  his  plan  matured. 
There  seemed  to  be  but  little  choice  between  being 
shot  to  death  Vv'hile  fleeing  from  them,  and  being  shot 
to  death  tied  to  a  stake.  He  preferred  the  former. 
They  reached  the  place  where  the  horse  was  hitched. 

"I  will  lead  the  horse,"  said  one. 

"Very  well,"  said  Billy.  "I  will  carry  these  two 
sage  hens  which  I  have  killed." 

ihe  man  went  ahead,  leading  the  horse.  Billy 
came  next,  carrying  the  sage  hens.  The  other  man 
brought  up  the  rear.  Every  step  onward  seemed  to 
Billy  to  be  a  step  toward  certain  death.  He  deter- 
mined to  escape  or  die  there.  He  dropped  one  of 
the  hens  as  if  by  chance,  and  asked  the  man  behind 
him  to  pick  it  up.  He  stooped  to  do  so,  but  as  it 
was  dark,  he  had  to  search  for  the  hen.  Billy  pulled 
his  revolver,  seized  the  muzzle,  and  with  the  butt 
dealt  the  man  a  heavy  blow  on  the  back  of  his  head, 
felling  him  to  the  ground.     The  man  ahead  turned 


42  BUFFALO    BILL 

to  see  what  was  the  matter,  but,  as  he  did  so,  drew 
his  revolver.  Billy  was  too  quick  for  him,  and  sent 
a  bullet  crashing  through  his  brain.  He  seized  his 
horse,  jumped  into  the  saddle,  and  galloped  away  as 
fast  as  he  could,  over  the  rough  road. 

The  thieves  in  the  hut  heard  the  noise  and  were 
soon  in  hard  pursuit,  and  gaining  rapidly  on  him. 
He  abandoned  his  horse,  gave  him  a  sharp  slap  on 
the  shoulders,  and  he  went  bounding  away  down  the 
mountain  side  He  crept  up  mto  some  brush,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  robbers  rush  by 
him,  and  heard  them  firing  at  what  they  supposed 
was  Billy  on  the  horse. 

When  they  were  gone  he  slipped  down  and  struck 
out  for  Horseshoe  Station,  distant  about  twenty-five 
miles.  He  traveled  hard  all  night  and  reached  the 
station  at  daylight.  When  he  had  related  his  expe- 
rience, a  band  was  organized  to  puruse  the  robbers. 
When  the  company  formed  for  this  purpose  reached 
the  rendezvous  of  the  men,  they  found  it  deserted, 
and  could  find  no  trace  of  the  route  taken  by  the 
fleeing  robbers. 

Indian  depredations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Express  headquarters  continued  to  grow  worse  from 
day  to  day,  until  they  became  so  bad  that  it  was 
decided  to  stop  the  pony  express  entirely  for  awhile, 
and  to  only  run  the  stages  occasionally.  But  this  did 
not  prevent  the  Indians  from  attacking  the  stage  when 
it  did  run,  and  only  a  few  days  after  this  decision  was 


RIDING   THE    PONV-  EXPRESS  43 

made,  several  hundred  Sioux  attacked  the  overland 
stage  between  Split  Rock  and  Three  Crossings, 
plundered  the  coach,  killed  the  driver  and  two  passen- 
gers, and  badly  wounded  Lieutenant  Flowers,  the 
assistant  division  agent. 

After  this  robbery  and  murder  by  the  Indians  a 
party  of  the  stage  company's  men  and  pony  express 
riders  was  organized  to  hunt  down  the  murderous 
Sioux,  and  if  possible  drive  them  from   the  country. 

The  party  was  headed  by  Wild  Bill,  the  famous 
Indian  fighter,  and  soon  got  upon  the  trail  of  the 
Indians.  Pushing  rapidly  forward  they  at  last  dis- 
covered the  Indians  camped  on  the  opposite  side  of 
Clear  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Powder  River.  There 
were  several  hundred  of  them,  and  they  seemed  to  be 
perfectly  free  from  any  thoughts  of  danger,  for  they 
had  no  scouts  posted  and  were  evidently  relying  for 
safety  upon  the  fact  that  they  were  under  their  own 
vine  and  fig  tree,  with  no  white  men  within  many 
miles  of  their  camp. 

The  Indians  outnumbered  their  white  avengers 
three  to  one,  so  after  taking  the  lay  of  the  camp, 
upon  the  advice  of  Wild  Bill,  it  was  decided  to  wait 
until  it  was  nearly  dark,  and  then,  after  creeping  as 
close  to  them  as  possible,  make  a  dash  through  the 
camp,  open  a  general  fire,  and  then  stampede  the 
horses. 

This  plan  was  successfully  carried  out.  The  Indians 
taken    completely     by    surprise,    were    bewildered. 


44  BUFFALO    BILL 

astounded,  and  did  not  comprehend  the  situation 
until  the  whites  had  ridden  peli-mell  through  their 
camp  and  got  away  with  not  only  the  horses  which  the 
Indians  had  stolen  from  the  whites,  but  with  those 
also  that  belonged  to  the  Indians. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIGHTING  FOR  THE  UNION. 

In  1862  Billy,  or  Bill  as  he  was  now  more  com- 
monly called,  joined  an  expedition  against  the  Indians 
in  the  capacity  of  guide  and  scout  to  Col.  Clark,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  9th  Kansas  Volunteers.  They 
had  several  engagements  with  the  Indians  but  none 
of  any  special  importance. 

After  his  return  from  this  expedition  he  was  sum- 
moned home  by  the  serious  illness  of  his  mother.  On 
his  arrival  home  he  found  his  mother  dying,  and  when 
she  was,  soon  after,  borne  to  the  grave  and  forever 
buried  from  his  sight.  Bill  was  distracted.  His 
mother  had  been  to  him  the  one  object  that  seemed 
to  make  his  life  worth  living. 

To  drown  the  unbearable  sorrow  that  was  destroy- 
ing all  desire  to  live,  he  plunged  into  a  career  of  dis- 
sipation, and  would  soon  have  gone  to  ruin  had  it  not 
been  for  the  fact  that  some  of  his  old  frontier  friends 
got  him  enlisted  in  the  volunteer  service  of  the  United 
States  army. 


FIGHTING    FOR   THE    UNION  45 

The  7tb  Kansas  regiment  of  volunteer  infantry, 
known  as  "Jennison's  Jayhawkers"had  just  re-organ- 
ized and  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  before  Bill  was 
aware  what  had  been  done,  several  of  his  old-time 
friends,  who  were  now  veterans  of  the  Union,  had 
him  enlisted  for  the  war  in  the  7th  Kansas  infantry. 
In  the  spring  of  1864  the  regiment  went  to  Tennessee, 
and  reached  Memphis  just  after  the  memorable  defeat 
of  General  Sturgiss,  at  Guntown,  Mississippi.  Tha 
fighting  he  was  now  called  upon  to  do  was  new  to 
him.  He  was  finally  made  a  non-commissioned 
officer,  and  placed  upon  detached  duty  as  scout. 

While  serving  in  this  capacity  in  Missouri  he  had 
a  singular  meeting  with  his  old  fellow  Indian  fighter 
of  pony  express  days,  Wild  Bill.  He  thus  relates  the 
incident  in  his  autobiography:  "I  was  still  acting  as 
scout,  when  one  day  I  rode  ahead  of  the  command, 
some  considerable  distance,  to  pick  up  all  possible 
information  concerning  Price's  movements.  I  was 
dressed  in  gray  clothes,  or  Missouri  jeans,  and  on 
riding  up  to  a  farm  house  and  entering  I  saw  a  man, 
also  dressed  in  gray  costume,  sitting  at  a  table  eating 
bread  and  milk.  He  looked  up  as  I  entered,  and 
startled  me  by  saying: 

"*You  little  rascal,  what  are  you  doing  in  those 
secesh  clothes?' 

"Judge  of  my  surprise  when  I  recognized  in  the 
stranger  my  old  friend  and  partner,  Wild  Bill,  dis- 
guised as  a  Confederate  officer. 


46  BUFFALO    BILL 

"*I  ask  you  the  same  question,  sir?'  said  I,  without 

the  least  hesitation. 

"'Hush!  sit  down  and  have  some  bread  and  milk, 
and  we'll  talk  it  all  over  afterwards,'  said  he. 

"I  accepted  the  invitation  and  partook  of  the 
refreshments.  Wild  Bill  paid  the  woman  of  the 
house,  and  we  went  out  to  the  gate  where  my  horse 
was  standing. 

"'Billy,  my  boy,'  said  he,  *I  am  mighty  glad  to 
see  you.  I  haven't  seen  or  heard  of  you  since  we  got 
busted  on  that  St.  Louis  horse  race. ' 

"'What  are  you  doing  here.^'  I  asked. 

"*I  am  a  scout  under  General  McNiel.  For  the 
last  few  days  I  have  been  with  General  Marmaduke's 
division  of  Price's  army,  in  disguise  as  a  Southern 
officer  from  Texas,  as  you  see  me  now,'  said  he, 

"'That's  exactly  the  kind  of  business  that  I  am  out 
on  to-day,'  said  I,  'and  I  want  to  get  some  informa- 
tion concerning  Price's  movements.' 

"Til  give  you  all  that  I  have;'  and  he  then  went 
on  and  told  me  all  that  he  knew  regarding  Price's 
intentions,  and  the  number  and  condition  of  his  men. 
He  then  asked  about  my  mother,  and  when  he  learned 
that  she  was  dead  he  was  greatly  surprised  and 
grieved;  he  thought  a  great  deal  of  her,  for  she  had 
treated  him  almost  as  one  of  her  own  children.  He 
finally  took  out  a  package,  which  he  had  concealed 
about  his  person,  and  handing  it  to  me,  he  said: 

"'Here  are  some  letters  which  I  >vant  you  to  give 
to  General  McNeil»4=^ 


FIGHTING    FOR   THE    UNION  47 

"*A11  right,'  said  I  as  I  took  them,  'but  where  will 
I  meet  you  again?' 

"*Never  mind  that,'  he  replied,  'I  am  getting  so 
much  valuable  information  that  I  propose  to  stay  a 
little  while  longer  in  this  disguise. '  Thereupon  we 
shook  hands  and  parted." 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  of  interest  to  the 
reader  to  know  some  further  particulars  concerning 
this  zealous  Union  Scout,  Wild  Bill.  The  following 
description  and  estimate  of  his  character  is  from  the 
pen  of  Gen.  George  A.  Custer,  under  whom  he  served 
as  guide  and  scout: 

"Among  the  white  scouts  were  numbered  some  of 
the  most  noted  of  their  class.  The  most  prominent 
among  them  was  Wild  Bill,  whose  highly  varied 
career  was  made  the  subject  of  an  illustrated  sketch 
in  one  of  the  popular  monthly  publications  several 
years  ago.  Wild  Bill,  was  a  strange  character,  just 
the  one  whom  a  novelist  would  gloat  over.  He  was 
a  plainsman  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  yet  un- 
like any  other  of  his  class.  In  person  he  was  about 
six  feet,  one  inch  in  height,  straight  as  the  straightest 
of  the  warriors  whose  implacable  foe  he  was.  He 
had  broad  shoulders,  well-formed  chest  and  limbs, 
and  a  face  strikingly  handsome;  a  sharp,  clear,  blue 
eye,  which  stared  you  straight  in  the  face  when  in 
conversation;  a  finely  shaped  nose,  inclined  to  be 
aquiline;  a  well-turned  mouth,  with  lips  only  partially 
concealed  by  a  handsome  mustache.      His  hair  and 


48  BUFFALO    BILL 

complexion  were  those  of  a  perfect  blonde.  The 
former  was  worn  in  uncut  ringlets,  falHng  carelessly 
over  his  powerfully  formed  shoulders.  Whether  on 
foot  or  on  horseback,  he  was  one  of  the  most  perfect 
types  of  physical  manhood  I  ever  saw.  Of  his 
courage  there  could  be  no  doubt;  it  had  been  brought 
to  the  test  on  too  many  occasions  to  admit  of  a  doubt. 
His  skill  in  the  use  of  the  pistol  and  rifle  was  unerr- 
ing, while  his  deportment  was  exactly  the  opposite 
of  what  might  be  expected  from  a  man  of  his  sur- 
roundings. It  was  entirely  free  from  all  bluster  or 
bravado.  He  seldom  spoke  of  himself  unless  requested 
to  do  so.  His  coversation,  strange  to  say,  never 
bordered  either  on  the  vulgar  or  blasphemous.  His 
influence  among  the  frontiersmen  was  unbounded,  his 
word  was  law;  and  many  are  the  personal  quarrels 
and  disturbances  which  he  has  checked  among  his 
comrades  by  his  simple  announcement  that  Hhis  has 
gone  far  enough,' — if  need  be,  followed  by  the  omin- 
ous warning  that  when  persisted  in  or  renewed,  the 
quarreler  ^must  settle  it  with  me.' 

"Wild  Bill  was  anything  but  a  quarrelsome  man; 
yet  no  one  but  himself  could  enumerate  the  many 
conflicts  in  which  he  had  been  engaged,  and  which  had 
almost  always  resulted  in  the  death  of  his  adversary. 
I  have  a  personal  knowledge  of  at  least  half  a  dozen 
men  whom  he  had  at  various  times  killed,  one  of 
these  being  at  the  time  a  member  of  my  command. 
Yet  he  always  escaped  unhurt." 


LAYS    OUT    AND    BOOMS    A    TOWN  49 

The  friendship  that  had  sprung  up  between  these 
two  men  never  grew  cold,  but  rather  increased  as 
the  years  rolled  by,  remained  unimpaired  to  the  time 
of  Wild  Bill's  untimely  and  tragic  death. 

Bill  remamed  with  the  army  as  a  soldier-scout  until 
1865,  when  he  was  detailed  for  special  service  at 
headquarters  in  St.  Louis.  It  was  there  he  met  and 
courted  Miss  Louisa,  who  afterwards  became  Mrs. 
Cody. 


CHAPTER  VIL 

LAYS   OUT  AND  BOOMS  A  TOWN. 

For  some  time  after  his  marriage,  Cody  conducted 
a  hotel  called  the  Golden  Rule  House,  at  Salt  Creek 
Valley,  Kansas. 

This  very  same  hotel  had  at  one  time  been  kept  by 
Cody's  mother,  and  so  Bill  was  very  well  received  by 
the  people  of  Salt  Creek  Valley,  and  with  their  en- 
couragement and  patronage  did  a  good  business. 

But  his  adventureous  nature  could  not  long  en- 
dure the  monotonous  routine  of  hotel  life,  and  he 
was  soon  again  acting  as  a  guide  and  scout  for  the 
Government  at  the  military  post  at  Elsworth. 

It  was  while  so  employed  he  first  met  General 
Custer.  Bill  was  scouting  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Hays,  when  General  Custer  came  up  to  the  post  in 
search  of  a  guide  to  pilot  him  and  his    escort   of   ten 


50  BUFFALO    BILL 

men  to  Fort  Lamed,  a  distance  of  sixty-five  miles 
across  the  country.     Cody  was  selected  for  this  duty. 

In  his  autobiography  he  relates  the  incident  as 
follows: 

"I  was  ordered  by  the  commanding  officer  to  guide 
General  Custer  to  his  desired  destination,  and  I  soon 
received  word  from  the  general  that  he  would  start 
out  in  the  morning  with  the  intention  of  making  the 
trip  in  one  day.  Early  in  the  morning,  after  a  good 
night's  rest,  I  was  on  hand  mounted  on  my  large 
mouse  colored  mule — an  animal  of  great  endurance — 
and  ready  for  the  journey ;  when  the  general  saw  me 
he  said: 

"*Cody,  I  want  to  travel  fast,  and  go  through  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  I  don't  think  that  mule  of 
yours  is  fast  enough  for  me. ' 

"* General,  never  mind  the  mule,  he'll  get  there  as 
soon  as  your  horses.     The  mule  is  a  good  one. ' 

«<Very  well;  go  ahead  then,'  said  he,  but  he  looked 
as  if  he  thought  I  would  delay  the  party  on  the  road. 

"For  the  first  fifteen  miles,  until  we  came  to  the 
Smoky  Hill  River,  which  we  were  to  cross,  I  could 
hardly  keep  the  mule  in  advance  of  the  general,  who 
rode  a  frisky,  impatient  and  ambitious  thoroughbred 
steed;  indeed,  the  whole  party  was  finely  mounted. 
The  general  repeatedly  told  me  that  the  mule  was 
*no  good,'  and  that  I  ought  to  have  a  good  horse. 
But  after  crossing  the  river  and  striking  the  sand- 
hills, I  began  letting  my  mule  out  a  little,  and  putting 


LAYS    OUT   AND    BOOMS    A   TOWN  51 

the  persuaders  to  him.  He  was  soon  out-traveling 
the  horses,  and  by  the  time  we  had  made  about  halt 
the  distance  to  Fort  Larned,  I  occasionally  had  to 
wait  for  the  general  or  some  of  his  party,  as  their 
horses  were  beginning  to  show  signs  of  fatigue. 

"'General,  how  about  this  mule?*  I  asked  at  last. 

"*Cody,  you  have  a  better  vehicle  than  I  thought 
you  had,'  was  his  reply. 

"From  that  time  on  to  Fort  Larned  I  had  no 
trouble  in  keeping  ahead  of  the  party.  We  rode  into 
the  fort  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  with  about  half 
the  escort  only,  the  rest  having  lagged  behind." 

A  short  time  after  his  return  to  Fort  Hays,  Bill 
was  ordered  to  report  to  the  Tenth  Cavalry  as  scout 
to  guide  an  expedition  against  a  band  of  Indians  that 
had  recently  made  a  raid  on  the  Kansas  Pacific  rail- 
road, killing  a  number  of  men  and  running  off  a  hun- 
dred horses  and  mules. 

The  cavalry,  a  colored  regiment,  quickly  overtook 
the  Indians,  but  soon  wished  they  hadn't,  for  the 
Indians  turned  upon  their  pursuers,  captured  their 
cannon  and  stampeded  the  regiment. 

Shortly  after  the  above  incident,  Bill  visited  the 
town  of  Elsworth,  where  he  met  a  man  named 
William  Rose,  who  persuaded  Bill  to  go  into  busi- 
ness with  him  as  a  real  estate  promoter. 

Rose  was  a  contractor  on  the  Kansas  Pacific  Rail- 
road, and  had  a  contract  for  grading  near  Fort  Hays. 
He  succeeded  in  convincing  Cody  that  a  million  could 
easily  be  made  in  the  enterp^ists^ 


52  BUFFALO    BILL 

The  scheme  was  to  purchase  a  site  for  a  town  at 
a  point  where  they  knew  the  Kansas  Pacific  would 
cross  Big  Creek,  about  a  mile  from  Fort  Hays,  lay  it 
out  in  town  lots  and  boom  the  business  for  all  there 
was  in  it. 

When  the  site  was  surveyed  and  the  lots  laid  out, 
they  gave  the  new  town  the  name  of  Rome.  To 
make  things  boom,  they  gave  a  lot  to  anyone  who 
would  build  upon  it,  reserving  for  themselves  the 
corner  lots  and  other  desirable  locations. 

Their  scheme  was  a  success.  In  less  than  one 
month  they  had  a  town  consisting  of  about  two  hun- 
dred frame  and  log  houses,  a  hotel,  several  stores, 
and  a  saloon.  Their  fortune  was  now  made,  and 
they  would  frequently  meet  and  figure  up  their  gains, 
which  as  yet  were  in  the  future,  but  very  near — 
almost  within  their  grasp. 

About  this  time,  Dr.  Webb,  who  was  agent  for  the 
railroad,  and  whose  business  it  was  to  locate  towns, 
came  to  Rome  and  sought  the  proprietors. 

"You  have  a  flourishing  town,  I  see,"  said  he. 

"Yes,  indeed,"  said  Bill.  "Let  us  give  you  a  lot. 
All  you  have  to  do  is  to  build  on  it."  ^ 

"No,  thank  you,"  said  the  Doctor.  "But  would 
you  not  Hke  a  partner?" 

"A  partner!  No,  sir;  we  have  too  good  a  thing 
to  *  whack  up*  with  any  one,"  said  Bill  loftily. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  the  Doctor,  "I  am  agent  for  the 
railroad,  and  it  is  my  business  to  locate  towns." 


LAYS   OUT  AND   BOOMS  A  TOWN  53 

**Ah,  indeed,"  said  Rose.  "So  we  have  saved  the 
company  great  expense.  Here  we  have  a  town 
already  started." 

"But  the  company  expect  to  make  money  selling 
land  and  town  lots,  and  unless  you  give  the  company 
or  me  a  show  in  this  matter,  I  will  have  to  start  a 
town  near  you  and  run  competition." 

"Go  ahead,"  said  Rose;  "we  have  the  *  bulge*  on 
you." 

The  Doctor  departed,  and  staked  a  place  about  one 
mile  east  of  Rome  and  called  it  Hays  City.  He  took 
pains  to  inform  everyone  that  there  the  railroad 
company  would  build  shops  and  establish  head- 
quarters. The  result  is  easily  and  quickly  told.  All 
the  houses  in  Rome  were  pulled  down  and  carted  to 
Hays  City.  Cody  &  Rose  found  their  site  deserted, 
the  only  sign  of  a  town  having  been  there  was  the 
lone  shanty  where  they  kept  their  little  stock  of  mer- 
chandise. They  too,  finally  pulled  up  stakes,  and 
accepted  two  lots  apiece  in  Hays  City  as  a  gift  from 
Dr.  Webb.  Bill  did  not  try  to  build  another  town. 
He  returned  to  his  favorite  pursuit  o£  scoutii^  and 
hunting.  Rose  accepted  a  contract  for  grading  9. 
part  of  the  railroad,  and  Bill  undertook  to  furnish 
the  camp  with  buffalo  meat* 


^  tUFFALO   BILL 

CHAPTER  VIIL 

A  RUN  FOR  LIFE. 

One  day  in  the  spring  of,  1868,  while  Buffalo  Bill 
was  engaged  as  hunter  for  the  Kansas  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company,  he  mounted  Brigham  and  started  for 
Smoky  Hill  River.  After  galloping  for  about  twenty 
miles  he  stopped  on  a  small  hill  overlooking  the  valley 
of  that  beautiful  river,  and  was  gazing  on  the  land- 
scape, when  suddenly  he  saw  a  band  of  about  thirty 
Indians  some  half  a  mile  distant.  From  the  way  they 
jumped  on  their  horses  he  knew  they  had  seen  him 
as  soon  as  they  came  in  sight. 

Buffalo  Bill  knew  that  the  only  chance  he  had  for 
life  was  to  make  a  run  for  it,  and  he  immediately 
wheeled  and  started  back  to  the  railroad.  Brigham 
seemed  to  understand  what  was  up,  and  struck  out 
as  if  he  comprehended  full  well  that  it  was  to  be  a  run 
for  life.  He  crossed  a  ravine  in  a  few  jumps,  and 
on  reaching  a  ridge  beyond,  Buffalo  Bill  drew  rein, 
looked  back  and  saw  the  Indians  tearing  after  him  at 
full  speed  and  evidently  well  mounted.  Had  Brigham 
been  fresh  Buffalo  Bill  would  have  had  no  fear  as  to 
the  result  of  the  race,  but  as  he  was  not,  the  outcome 
seemed  decidedly  dubious. 

His  pursuers  were  evidently  gaining  on  him  for  a 
while,  then  Brigham  suddenly  made  a  spurt  and  shot 


A  RUN   FOR  LIFB  f| 

ahead  again.  But  he  could  not  keep  up  his  speed  for 
any  great  distance,  and  when  he  had  run  about  three 
miles  further,  eight  or  nine  of  the  Indians  were  not 
more  than  three  hundred  yards  behind,  and  five  or 
six  of  these  seemed  to  be  shortening  the  gap  at  every 
jump.  Brigham  now  exerted  himself  to  his  utmost, 
and  for  the  next  three  or  four  miles  got  "right  down 
to  business."  But  the  Indians  were  about  as  well 
mounted  as  Bill  was,  and  one  of  their  horses  in  par- 
ticular— a  spotted  animal — kept  gaining  on  him  all 
the  time.  The  other  horses  were  strung  out  behind 
for  a  distance  of  two  miles  or  more,  but  still  chasing 
as  hard  as  they  could. 

The  Indian  on  the  spotted  horse  was  armed  with 
a  rifle,  and  would  occasionally  send  a  bullet  whist- 
ling along  in  unpleasant  proximity  to  Buffalo  Bill's 
head.  He  saw  that  this  Indian  must  be  checked, 
or  a  stray  bullet  from  his  gun  might  do  Brigham  or 
himself  some  harm;  so,  suddenly  stopping  his  horse 
and  quickly  wheeling  him  around,  he  raised  his  rifle 
to  his  shoulder,  took  deliberate  aim  at  the  Indian 
and  his  horse,  hoping  to  hit  one  or  the  other,  and 
fired.  The  Indian  was  not  eighty  yards  away  at  the 
time,  and  at  the  crack  of  the  rifle  down  went  his 
horse.  Not  waiting  to  see  if  he  recovered,  Buffalo 
Bill  turned  Brigham  and  fairly  went  flying  from  the 
place;  he  had  urgent  business  elsewhere  about  that 
time,  and  was  in  something  of  a  hurry  to  get  there. 
The  other  Indians  had  gained  on  him  while  he  wal 


5D  StUFFAL®  BIIX 

engaged  in  shooting  at  their  leader,  and  they  sent 
several  shots  whizzing  past  him.  Buffalo  Bill  occa- 
sionally wheeled  in  his  saddle  and  returned  their  fire, 
one  of  his  shots  breaking  a  leg  of  one  of  their  horses. 

The  chase  was  kept  up  until  within  three  miles  of 
the  railroad  track,  where  two  companies  of  soldiers 
were  stationed  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  work- 
men from  the  Indians.  One  of  the  outposts  saw  the 
Indians  chasing  across  the  prairie  and  gave  the 
alarm.  There  was  mounting  in  hot  haste,  which  the 
Indians  observed,  and  they  turned  and  ran  in  the 
direction  from  which  they  had  come. 

Upon  learning  what  had  happened,  Captain  Nolen 
of  the  Tenth  Cavalry,  with  forty  of  his  men  deter- 
mined to  pursue  the  Indians.  Buffalo  Bill  was  given 
a  fresh  horse,  and  invited  to  join  in  the  chase.  As 
the  horses  of  the  cavalry  men  were  all  fresh,  they 
soon  began  shortening  the  distance  between  them- 
selves and  the  redskins.  Before  the  Indians  had 
gone  five  miles  the  cavalry  overtook  and  killed  eight 
of  their  number.  The  others  succeeded  in  making 
their  escape. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

BARNS  THE  NAME  OF  "BUFFALO  BILL" 

Bill  found  his  contract  to  furnish  the  camp  with 
meat  was  a  pretty  difficult  one  to  carry  out. 

For  several  days  no  buffaloes  were  seen  any  where 


BARKS  THE   NAME   OF    * 'BUFFALO   BULB/*  57 

in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  and  the  meat  supply  was 
running  decidedly  low. 

But  one  day  when  Bill  had  just  placed  his  horse 
"Brigham"  into  a  team  that  was  used  in  drawing  a 
scraper,  one  of  Rose's  horses  having  given  out,  one 
of  the  workmen  discovered  a  bunch  of  buffaloes  just 
coming  over  a  distant  hill.  Bill  jerked  the  harness 
off  his  horse, — the  horse  that  afterwards  became  so 
famous — leaving  the  blind  bridle  on,  and  mounted 
without  a  saddle.  Snatching  up  his  gun,  which  he 
called  "Lucretia  Borgia,"  and  which  was  an  improved 
breech-loading  needle  gun,  just  received  from  the 
government,  he  dashed  away  toward  the  game. 

Just  then  the  gates  of  the  fort  opened  and  a  captain 
and  several  lieutenants  rode  out,  they  too  having  dis- 
covered the  buffalo,  and  were  intent  on  a  chase  after 
them.     As  Bill  rode  up  to  them  the  Captain  said: 

**  Well,  my  man,  you  are  not  going  after  the  buffalo 
on  that  horse!  It  takes  a  spirited  and  blooded  horse 
to  take  such  game.'' 

"Does  it?"  said  Bill,  innocently,  as  if  he  wer^ 
ignorant  of  the  business. 

"Yes,  it  does;  but  as  we  only  want  the  tongues 
and  a  few  tenderloin  steaks,  you  may  follow  us  and 
take  the  rest  of  the  game.** 

Bill  bowed  low  in  acknowledgment  of  the  favor 
granted  him,  while  the  officers  galloped  of!  to  over- 
take the  buffalo.  Bill  knew  the  habits  of  the  animal, 
and  instead  of  riding  directly  toward  them,  as  the 


58  BUFFALO  BILL 

officers  did,  he  took  a  straight  course  for  the  creek, 
where  he  knew  they  would  cross.  In  this  way  he 
arrived  there  as  soon  as  they  did,  while  the  officers 
were  in  the  rear  about  three  hundred  yards.  He 
immediately  threw  off  the  old  blind  bridle  and  let 
**Brigham"  have  his  own  way.  The  horse  under- 
stood his  business.  He  carried  Bill  close  up  to  the 
side  of  one  buffalo,  and  as  soon  as  he  heard  the  shot 
and  saw  the  animal  fall,  he  dashed  up  alongside 
another,  and  so  on.  There  were  only  eleven  buffa- 
loes in  the  herd.  These  were  all  killed  in  quick  suc- 
cession, only  one  shot  missing  aim.  When  the  last 
animal  was  down  Brigham  stopped,  and  Bill  leaped 
from  his  back,  just  as  the  others  rode  up.  Bill 
saluted  them  in  royal  style  and  said: 

"Gentlemen,  here  are  your  tongues  and  tender- 
loins.'* 

"Who  are  you,  anyway?"  asked  the  Captain  in 
astonishment. 

"My  name  is  Cody,"  said  Bill. 

"What,  not  Bill,  the  scout?" 

"The  same,  sir." 

"Well,  I  must  say  that  horse  of  yours  has  good 
running  points." 

"Yes,  a  few." 

"And  what  a  hunter  you  are.  Indeed,  I  never  saw 
finer  sport." 

"Brigham  did  the  hunting,  sir.  I  had  only  to  do 
the  shooting.     When  I  fired    and    missed,  he    would 


EARNS    THE   NAME   OF    '^BUFFALO   BILL"  59 

give  me  another  chance  at  the  same  animal.  If  I 
missed  the  second  time,  he  would  dash  away  as  much 
as  to  say,  *You  are  no  good."* 

The  Captain  gave  Bill  a  pressing  invitation  to  come 
to  the  fort,  and  assured  him  that  he  would  be  glad 
to  give  him  employment,  whenever  he  should  have 
need  of  a  scout. 

At  Fort  Wallace  was  a  scout  named  Comstock, 
who  was  thought  by  some  to  be  more  expert  in  hunt- 
ing  and  killing  buffaloes  than  was  Cody.  It  was 
arranged  by  mutual  friends  to  have  a  trial  of  skill. 
The  stake  was  $500,  and  both  men  found  ready 
backers. 

The  place  was  twenty  miles  east  of  Sheridan, 
Kansas.  The  contest  was  extensively  advertised, 
and  hundreds  of  people  from  as  far  east  as  St.  Louis, 
went  to  see  the  match. 

It  was  agreed  that  both  men  should  ride  into  the 
herd,  and  Cody  should  take  the  right  side,  and  Com- 
stock  the  left.  Cody  was  mounted  on  Brigham,  and 
had  his  trusty  rifle  Lucretia,  a  50  caliber.  He  felt 
confident  of  success,  because  he  knew  his  horse  could 
not  be  excelled,  and  his  gun  had  no  equal.  At  the 
appointed  day  the  company  assembled,  and  soon  a 
herd  of  buffaloes  was  discovered  quietly  grazing.  A 
man  to  keep  tally  went  with  each  hunter,  while  the 
spectators  remained  at  a  safe  distance. 

Cody  rode  to  the  head  of  his  part  of  the  herd,  and 
by  killing  the  leaders,  and  pressing  the  ethers  irom 


60  BUFFALO   BlU, 

right  to  left,  he  soon  had  them  running  in  a  circle. 
He  kept  up  the  race  until  he  had  sixty-nine  buffaloes 
lying  dead  in  a  very  small  circle.  Comstock  rode 
after  his  and  killed  the  rearmost  animal  each  time. 
The  result  was  that  he  had  only  forty-six  dead 
animals,  and  they  were  scattered  along  the  plains  for 
three  or  four  miles.  As  may  be  guessed,  Cody's  plan 
made  his  skill  appear  to  great  advantage.  The 
championship  was  cheerfully  accorded  to  him.  This 
circumstance,  coupled  with  the  fact,  that  as  hunter 
for  the  Kansas  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  he  had  in 
eighteen  months  killed  4,280  buffaloes,  gave  him  the 
name  of  "Buffalo  Bill." 

The  grand  finale  of  his  contest  with  Comstock  may 
be  mentioned  here.  On  the  last  run  he  took  both 
saddle  and  bridle  from  his  horse,  and,  although  the 
ladies  of  the  company  begged  him  not  to  undertake 
so  rash  a  feat,  he  dashed  away  on  his  well-trained 
horse  without  either  saddle  or  bridle.  He  separated 
a  big  bull  from  the  herd,  and  headed  him  toward  the 
company  of  spectators.  On  they  came,  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  assembly,  and  it  seemed  that  the  ladies 
must  be  run  down  before  the  infuriated  beast  and 
the  wild  rider.  The  ladies  were  frightened,  and 
screamed  lustily.  Just  as  the  buffalo  was  a  few  feet 
distant,  "Brigham"  came  up  alongside  at  one  bound, 
and  Cody  sent  a  ball  through  the  heart  of  the  bull» 
which  rolled  in  the  dust  at  the  very  feet  of  the  spec- 
tatos%  while  Bill  leaped  to  the  ground  and  "Brigham* 


TAMES  THE  COW  BOYS  6t 

stopped  short  in  his  tracks.     This  brilliant  feat  won 
round  after  round  of  applause  for  '^ Buffalo  BilL** 


CHAPTER  X. 

TAMES  THE  COW-BOVt 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  when  Buffalo  Bill  lived  in 

Hays  City,  Kansas  was  a  pretty  tough  country,  and 
there  was  sometimes  something  else  for  him  to  do 
besides  fighting  Indians  and  hunting  buffaloes. 

There  were  cowboys  and  rough  characters  galor^ 
and  they  used  to  run  things  to  suit  themselves 
Among  the  towns  set  down  on  the  hot  prairie  but 
ambitious  for  future  greatness,  that  had  suffered 
greatly  by  the  depredations  and  lawlessness  of  the 
rough  element,  was  Abilene — some  folks  call  it  the 
City  of  the  Plains.  It  was  almost  as  much  as  a 
Marshal's  life  was  worth  to  arrest  a  cowboy  in  Abilene, 
and  even  if  he  did  manage  to  get  his  prisoner  in  the 
lock-up,  the  fellow's  cronies  would  come  swooping 
down  on  the  town,  terrorize  the  citizens,  intimidate 
the  jailer,  and  release  the  culprit.  In  time  the  bold- 
ness of  the  cowboys  became  so  intolerable  that  the 
Council  determined  to  take  extraordinary  measures 
for  the  protection  of  the  citizens  and  the  apprehen- 
sion of  the  marauders. 

At  that  time  Cody  was  being  talked  about  very 


6a  BUFFALO  BILL 

much  on  account  of  his  recent  Buffalo  killing  match 
with  Comstock.  All  through  the  West  he  was  known 
for  his  intrepidity  as  well  as  for  his  extraordinary 
success  in  handling  rough  characters.  T.  J.  Henry, 
then  Mayor  of  Abilene,  and  now  the  owner  of  an 
extensive  irrigation  ranch  in  Colorado,  was  instructed 
to  write  to  Cody  and  learn  how  much  he  would 
demand  to  take  the  Marshalship  of  the  town  and  rid 
the  locality  of  its  undesirable  element.  Cody  lacon- 
ically replied: 

"One  hundred  dollars  a  month.** 

The  Abilene  Council  thought  the  figure  was  too 
high  and  the  negotiations  were  temporarily  permitted 
to  drop.  Shortly  afterward  a  negro  cowboy  was 
arrested  for  being  disorderly.  After  considerable 
difficulty,  he  was  locked  up.  A  couple  of  hours  later 
a  party  of  his  cowboy  friends  came  riding  into  town, 
whooping  and  firing  their  pistols  into  the  air,  and 
almost  before  the  town  had  realized  what  had  hap- 
pened, they  had  released  the  prisoner  and  were 
scudding  away  over  the  prairie  with  him. 

This  was  the  climax  to  many  similar  outrages,  and 
it  aroused  the  town  to  a  pitch  of  frenzy.  Mayor 
Henry  called  for  a  posse  of  citizens  to  follow  the 
miscreants,  and  nearly  every  able-bodied  man  in  the 
corporation  responded.  They  were  all  heavily 
armed.  Several  miles  out  of  town  they  came  upon 
the  cowboys,  who  had  carelessly  encamped  for  the 
night.     The   Mayor   advanced  at  the  head  of  his 


TAMES    THE    COW-BOYS  63 

posse,  and  pointing  out  the  fact  that  the  citizens 
outnumbered  the  cowboys  two  to  one,  and  were 
prepared  to  fight  to  the  death,  demanded  the  return 
of  the  culprit.  After  considerable  parleying,  the 
cowboys  relinquished  the  negro  and  he  was  trium- 
phantly returned  to  the  lock-up.  That  night  a  heavy 
guard  of  citizens  surrounded  the  jail. 

The  next  morning  brought  with  it  renewed  excite- 
ment. Everyone  was  nervous  and  expectant.  All 
looked  for  further  trouble  and  probable  bloodshed. 
Gangs  of  cowboys  began  to  gather  early  in  the  day, 
and  signs  of  brewing  trouble  were  everywhere 
apparent. 

After  a  consultation  with  the  Council  Mayor  Henry 
sent  word  to  Cody  to  come  at  once  to  Abilene — at 
his  own  price.     The  following  day  he  arrived. 

About  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  Mayor  was 
sitting  in  his  office  when  a  well-built,  wiry-looking 
man  entered.  He  wore  his  hair  long,  beneath  a 
slouched  hat,  and  the  Mayor  thought  he  was  a  cow- 
boy. 

"Are  you  Mayor  Henry?"  asked  the  stranger, 

"Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"Well,  my  name's  Cody— Buffalo  Bill  they  call 
me  and — I've  come  over  to  look  after  the  *boys.*" 

The  Mayor  extended  his  hand.  "You've  come  just 
in  time,"  he  said.  "The  devil's  to  pay  here  and 
something's  got  to  be  done  mighty  quick.  What  do 
you  propose  to  do?" 


04  BUFFALO   BILL 

"The  first  thing,"  responded  Cody,  slowly  weighing 
his  words — "is  to  pass  an  ordinance  making  it  a  mis- 
demeanor to  carry  firearms.  I  want  you  to  get  the 
Council  together  and  pass  it  right  away.  Then  I 
want  some  copies  of  the  ordinance  printed." 

The  Mayor  smiled  incredulously.  "Why,"  he 
exclaimed,  "how  on  earth  do  you  expect  to  enforce 
such  an  ordinance.?" 

"That's  my  part  of  the  work,"  said  Cody.  "You 
pass  the  ordinance  and  leave  the  rest  to  me." 

The  Council  was  hurriedly  convened  and  the  ordi- 
nance passed.  Then  a  hundred  or  more  copies  were 
struck  off.  That  night  the  new  Marshal  tacked  them 
up  all  over  town.  The  next  morning  everybody  read 
the  ordinance  and  went  around  with  broad  smiles  on 
their  faces.  The  cowboys  were  especially  amused. 
Nobody  thought  for  a  moment  that  the  ordinance 
could  be  enforced. 

About  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Cody  was  walking 
down  the  middle  of  the  main  street,  when  an  uproar 
in  a  saloon  attracted  his  attention.  Quietly  crossing 
over,  he  entered.  A  crowd  of  cowboys  were  inside 
and  one  of  them  in  particular  seemed  to  be  endeav- 
oring to  see  how  much  of  a  disturbance  he  could 
make.  Going  up  to  the  fellow,  Cody  looked  him 
square  in  the  eyes  and  said,  quietly: 

"Say,  stranger,  ain't  you  making  just  a  little  bit 
too  much  noise  for  the  good  of  this  town?" 

The  cowboy  looked  at  the  speaker  in  undisguised 
amazement. 


TAMES    THE    COW-BOYS  65 

"Who  the be  you?"  he  demanded,  contempt- 

aously. 

"I'm  the  man  who  is  paid  for  taking  care  of  fellows 
like  you,"  was  the  reply. 

"So  you're  the  new  Marshal,  air  ye?** 

"I  guess  I  am." 

"Well,  you  be "* 

Cody  interrupted  him.  "Don't  swear,  stranger," 
he  said,  "it  don't  pay." 

Just  then  the  cowboy's  coat  flew  back  and  the 
Marshal  noticed  a  revolver  in  the  fellow's  belt. 

"Don't  you  know  that's  against  the  ordinance?" 
he  said.     "Better  give  me  that." 

"I'll  see  you  jiggered  first,"  cried  the  cowboy,  and 
he  made  a  movement  to  draw  the  "shooting  iron." 
But  the  Marshal  was  too  quick  for  him.  Before  he 
could  lay  his  hand  on  the  revolver,  Cody's  fist  caught 
him  square  between  the  eyes.  He  dropped  like  a 
log.  The  Marshal  stooped  down,  relieved  the  pros- 
trate man  of  his  revolver  and  then  quietly  walked  out 
of  the  saloon.  The  other  men  in  the  place,  many  of 
them  the  toughest  kind  of  border  desperadoes,  were 
completely  awed  by  the  audacity  of  the  thing. 

The  following  day,  as  the  Marshal  was  passing 
along  the  street,  he  saw  another  cowboy  with  a  couple 
of  long,  murderous-looking  revolvers  ostentatiously 
displayed  in  his  belt. 

"You  have  to  give  them  up,  strainer,"  he  said, 
approaching  the  fellow. 


66  BUFFALO   BILL 

The  cowboy  started  toward  the  Marshal  with  blood 
in  his  eye. 

"Say,"  he  yelled,  "you're  the  fellow  that  floored 
my  brother   yesterday,  ain't  yer?" 

"May  be  I  an?." 

"Well,  I'm  just  going  to  wipe  up  the  earth  with 
you." 

Cody  stood  still,  put  his  thumbs  under  his  arms 
and  looked  the  cowboy  in  the  face. 

"Now,  look  here,  stranger,"  he  said,  "there's  no 
use  getting  hot.      Let's  argue  this  thing  out  a  little." 

The  cowboy,  however,  was  in  no  humor  for  argu- 
ment. His  hands  instinctively  went  down  to  his  belt. 
The  revolvers  never  came  out.  One  of  the  Marshal's 
sledge-hammer  blows  sent  him  sprawling,  and  before 
he  could  recover  his  equilibrium  his  revolvers  had 
gone  to  join  the  one  confiscated  from  his  brother. 

Several  similar  incidents  soon  convinced  the  cow- 
boys that  they  had  an  extraordinary  man  to  deal 
with,  and  in  a  few  weeks,  under  the  guardianship  of 
the  new  Marshal,  Abilene  became  as  quiet  and  orderly 
as  the  most  conservative  citizen  could  wish  for. 

Cody  remained  three  months,  and  for  his  services 
in  ridding  the  town  of  its  desperadoes,  often  at  the 
peril  of  his  own  life,  he  received  the  munificent  sum 
of  $300.  But  he  made  no  complaint.  It  was  the 
price  he  had  himself  set  upon  his  services. 


GUIDE    SCOUT,    AND   INDIAN    FIGHTER  67 

CHAPTER  XI. 

GUIDE,   SCOUT,   AND  INDIAN  FIGHTER. 

Soon  after  the  incident  recorded  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  Buffalo  Bill  reported  to  Captain  Parker,  in 
command  at  Fort  Larned,  for  duty  as  scout  and  guide 

Gen.  Hazen  soon  after  arrived  at  the  fort  and  took 
command.  There  were  three  hundred  lodges  of 
Indians  about  the  fort.  They  were  restless  and  anx- 
ious to  take  the  war  path,  but  were  kept  quiet  by  the 
efforts  of  the  soldiers.  Gen.  Hazen  wanted  to  go  to 
Fort  Harper,  and  ordered  Bill  and  twenty  infantry- 
men to  accompany  him,  as  he  rode  in  a  six  mule 
wagon.  They  went  as  far  as  Fort  Zarah,  where  they 
left  the  General  to  go  alone,  and  had  orders  to  re- 
turn to  Fort  Larned  next  morning.  But  Buffalo  Bill 
told  the  sergeant  that  he  would  return  to  Larned  that 
afternoon,  and  saddling  his  mule,  he  set  out  alone. 
When  about  half  way  he  was  "jumped"  by  a  band 
of  Indians,  who  rode  up  saying,  "How!  How!"  and 
one  reached  out  his  hand  to  Buffalo  Bill  for  a  hearty 
shake.  He  grasped  the  hand  and  was  immediately 
jerked  forward  by  the  brave,  while  another  redskin 
grabbed  his  mule  by  the  bridle,  and  another  snatched 
his  revolver  from  the  hostler,  another  grabbed  his 
rifle  from  him,  while  still  another  struck  him  on  the 
head  with  a  tomahawk.     They  then  started  off  to- 


68  BUFFALO   BILL 

wards  the  Arkansas  River,  one  leading  the  mule, 
while  the  rest  lashed  him  from  behind.  They  were 
yelling,  whooping,  singing,  as  only  Indians  can  when 
having  everything  their  own  way.  These  were  some 
of  the  Indians  who  had  been  left  at  Fort  Larned  that 
morning.  Bill  soon  discovered  that  the  whole  band 
were  on  the  war  path,  and  these  were  only  a  squad 
from  the  main  army 

One  of  the  chiefs  came  up  to  him  and  asked  him 
where  he  had  been.  A  happy  thought  came  to  him 
at  that  instant,  and  he  answered,  "I  ha^-e  been 
searching  for  the  *\Vhoa-haws. '"  The  Indians  used 
this  term  to  designate  the  cattle  furnished  them  by 
the  government.  The  old  chief  was  anxious  to  know 
more  about  the  "Whoa-haws."  Bill  told  him  they 
were  back  a  little  way,  and  he  had  been  sent  by  Gen. 
Hazen  to  tell  him  that  they  were  for  his  people.  The 
chief  asked  if  any  soldiers  were  with  the  herd.  Bill 
said  there  were.  The  chief  seemed  delighted;  Bill 
then  told  him  that  the  treatment  he  had  received  was 
mean  and  cowardly,  especially  as  he  was  on  such  a 
friendly  errand.  The  chief  then  made  the  young 
men  give  up  Bill's  arms.  He  was  anxious  to  get  the 
cattle,  and  believed  also  there  were  "heap  of  soldiers 
coming."  Bill  had  been  lying  to  him,  but  thought 
himself  justified  under  the  circumstances.  The  old 
chief  told  him  to  go  back  and  bring  the  cattle  up. 
This  Bill  consented  to  do,  and  started  off,  intending 
when  in  the  valley,  out  of  sight    of   the    Indians,  to 


GUIDE,  SCOUT,    AND    INDIAN    FIGHTER  .69 

put  spurs  to  his  mule  and  flee  to  Fort  Lamed.  He 
had  gone  but  a  little  way,  when,  on  looking  back,  he 
saw  fifteen  Indians  following  him,  he  urged  his  mule 
to  a  lope.  He  reached  the  valley  and  turned  sharply 
off  and  headed  toward  the  fort.  The  Indians  came 
in  sight,  and  seeing  him  fleeing,  started  in  hot  pur- 
suit. They  kept  up  the  chase  for  about  nine  miles, 
Fort  Larned  being  still  six  miles  distant,  when  the 
old  road  was  reached,  and  Buffalo  Bill  put  spurs  to 
his  mule  and  urged  him  to  his  greatest  speed.  The 
Indians  came  on,  but  did  not  gain  much.  At  sun- 
down Fort  Larned  was  four  miles  away,  but  in  plain 
sight.  Bill's  mule  began  to  give  out,  while  the  horses 
of  the  Indians  seemed  fresh,  and  were  gaining  rapidly. 
When  two  miles  from  the  fort,  several  of  the  Indians 
were  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile  behind  the  fleeing 
scout.  Fortunately,  he  saw  a  squad  of  soldiers  in 
a  government  wagon  going  to  the  fort.  He  hailed 
them,  and  hastily  told  his  story.  They  turned  aside 
in  a  clump  of  trees  near  at  hand,  and  waited  the  In- 
dians, who  came  dashing  along.  They  fired  upon 
them,  kiUing  two;  the  others  turned,  and  escaped  in 
the  dark.  The  two  were  scalped,  and  then  Buffalo 
Bill  and  his  comrades  moved  into  the  fort,  where  all 
the  soldiers  were  under  arms,  and  preparing  for  an 
attack,  as  they  had  heard  the  firing. 

When  Buffalo  Bill  reported  to  the  Commander,  he 
found  him  with  all  his  scouts  trying  to  find  a  man 
who  would  volunteer  to  carry  a  dispatch  to  General 


7©  BUFFALO    BILL 

Sheridan,  then  at  Fort  Hays,  sixty-five  miles  away. 
None  were  willing  to  go.  Finally  Cody  volunteered, 
and  although  he  had  ridden  sixty  miles  that  day  and 
was  tired  and  hungry,  he  mounted  a  horse  and  left 
Fort  Lamed,  to  ride  to  Fort  Hays  in  the  night,  not 
a  star  appearing,  and  a  storm  gathering  in  the  sky. 
His  route  lay  through  a  country  infested  by  hostile 
Indians,  but  he  reached  General  Sheridan's  head- 
quarters a  little  after  daybreak,  and  delivered  the 
message. 

After  taking  a  nap  of  two  hours,  and  visiting  with 
some  old  acquaintances  at  Hays  City,  near  the  fort, 
he  reported  again  to  General  Sheridan,  as  he  had 
been  requested  to  do.  He  found  him  trying  to  per- 
suade some  scout  to  carry  a  message  to  Fort  Dodge, 
ninety-five  miles  away.  But  none  would  volunteer, 
though  the  pay  was  large.  Several  messengers  had 
been  killed  on  that  route,  and  the  scouts  were  chary 
about  taking  the  chances.  It  seemed  hard  to  ask 
Buffalo  Bill  to  do  it,  since  he  had  just  ridden  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  the  day  and  night 
before.  No  one  would  volunteer,  and  at  4  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  Cody  mounted  a  fine  horse  and  started. 
He  rode  seventy  miles  that  night,  and  reached  Saw 
Log  Crossing,  where  he  found  a  company  of  colored 
troops  under  command  of  Major  Cox.  Here  he  slept 
an  hour,  got  a  fresh  horse,  and  was  soon  on  the  way 
again.  It  was  now  just  sunrise.  About  10  o'clock 
he  reached  Fort  Dodge.     He  found  the  Commander 


GUIDE,  SCOUT,    AND    INDIAN    FIGHTER  7I 

anxious  to  send  messages  to  Fort  Lamed,  but  no 
scout  would  undertake  the  trip.  Fort  Dodge  is  sixty- 
five  miles  from  Fort  Larned.  As  the  latter  post  was 
Cody's  headquarters,  he  volunteered  to  make  the  trip 
for  the  Commander.  The  Commander  said  he  would 
be  glad  to  send  the  message,  but  it  seemed  too  hard 
for  Buffalo  Bill  to  make  the  journey  after  all  he  had 
done,  especially  as  they  had  no  fresh  horse  to  offer 
him,  and  only  a  mule  as  a  substitute.  But  Cody 
was  anxious  to  return,  and  he  mounted  the  mule  and 
commenced  his  homeward  trip,  leaving  Fort  Dodge 
at  dark.  He  did  not  take  the  main  and  generally 
traveled  road,  knowing  the  Indians  would  be  watching 
that  for  scouts.  Unfortunately  his  mule  got  away  as 
he  stopped  to  get  a  drink  at  the  creek.  He  tried  to 
catch  him,  but  the  obstinate  animal  trotted  on  ahead, 
just  out  of  his  reach,  the  balance  of  the  night.  Just 
at  sunrise  he  came  in  sight  of  Fort  Larned.  When 
the  morning  guns  echoed  over  the  plains,  they  were 
just  half  a  mile  from  the  fort,  the  mule  trotting  along 
ahead,  and  Bill  trudging  after  him  afoot.  He  was 
provoked.  Raising  his  gun,  he  aimed  and  fired,  and 
lodged  a  ball  in  the  mule's  hip.  He  shot  him  again, 
and  continued  to  pepper  him  from  the  rear  until  he 
dropped  dead.  The  troops  at  the  fort  hearing  the 
firing,  came  rushing  out  to  see  the  cause.  They  all 
agreed  that  the  mule  had  been  served  just  right. 
Buffalo  Bill  reported  to  Captain  Parker,  delivered 
the  message,  and  then  lay  down   and   took   a   long, 


72  BUFFALO   BILL. 

refreshing  sleep.  General  Hazen  had  returned  to 
Fort  Larned,  and  wanted  to  send  some  messages  to 
General  Sheridan,  so  that  night  found  Buffalo  Bill 
again  on  the  road,  mounted  on  a  good  horse,  bound 
for  Fort  Hays,  the  headquarters  of  General  Sheridan. 
The  next  morning  found  the  intrepid  scout  again  in 
the  presence  of  General  Sheridan,  who  was  aston- 
ished when  he  knew  of  the  rides  he  had  made  from 
post  to  post,  since  he  saw  him  two  or  three  days 
before.  He  had  ridden  355  miles  in  fifty-eight  riding 
hours,  most  of  the  time  in  the  night,  making  an 
average  of  over  six  miles  an  hour,  through  a  trackless 
plain  infested  by  hostile  Indians. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  CHIEF  OF  SCOUTS. 

General  Sheridan  retained  Buffa'io  Bill  at  the  fort> 
and  appointed  him  Chief  of  Scouts  and  assigned  him 
to  4^-aty  with  the  Fifth  Cavalry,  which  was  just  about 
to  set  out  on  an  expedition  against  the  Dog  Soldier 
Indians,  who  were  then  making  considerable  trouble 
along  the  Republican  River. 

The  expedition  set  out  for  the  Beaver  Creek 
Country  almost  immediately  after  Buffalo  Bill's  ap- 
pointment was  made,  and  met  with  exciting  incidents 
from  the  very  first  day  of  its  march. 


THE    CHIEF   OF    SCOUTS  73 

Buffalo  Bill  kept  the  officer's  mess  well  supplied 
with  fresh  buffalo  meat,  and  one  day  surprised  the 
Colonel  by  running  seven  big  buffaloes  straight  into 
camp,  and  killing  them  all  in  rapid  succession  in  the 
presence,  and  almost  at  the  very  feet  of  the  officer. 

The  Colonel  was  somewhat  dumfounded,  and  not 
altogether  pleased  with  the  incident.  He  went  up 
to  Buffalo  Bill  and  asked  for  an  explanation.  "I 
can't  allow  any  such  business  as  this,"  he  said,  "what 
do  you  mean  by  it?" 

"I  didn't  care  about  asking  for  any  wagons  this 
time,  Colonel,"  replied  Buffalo  Bill,  "so  I  thought  I 
would  make  the  buffaloes  furnish  their  own  transpor- 
tation." 

The  point  of  Bill's  reply  rested  in  the  fact  that 
only  a  day  or  two  before  when  he  asked  the  Colonel 
to  send  out  some  wagons  to  fetch  back  the  buffaloes 
he  intended  to  shoot  the  Colonel  replied:  "First  kill 
your  buffaloes  and  then  ask  for  the  wagons."  The 
Colonel  took  the  remark  good-naturedly,  and  Bill 
was  permitted  thereafter  to  have  as  many  wagons 
sent  out  after  the  buffaloes  he  intended  to  kill  as  he 
deemed  to  be  necessary  to  bring  in  the  carcases. 

On  the  second  day's  march  the  cavalry  arrived  at 
the  South  fork  of  Beaver  Creek,  where  they  discov- 
ered a  large  fresh  Indian  trail.  They  rapidly  followed 
it  up  for  about  eight  miles,  when  suddenly  they  dis- 
covered a  large  number  of  Indians  on  the  bluffs  just 

ahead  of  them. 
6 


74  BUFFALO    BILL 

A  company  of  cavalry  and  scouts  were  in  advance 
of  the  main  command  nearly  a  mile.  Suddenly  about 
four  hundred  Indians  charged  down  upon  them,  and 
a  lively  fight  immediately  commenced.  The  company 
was  soon  supported  by  the  full  force  of  cavalry.  The 
Indians  also  kept  increasing  in  numbers  all  the  while 
until  the  fight  became  quite  general.  Quite  a  num- 
ber were  killed  and  wounded  on  each  side.  The 
Indians  were  evidently  fighting  to  give  their  families 
and  village  a  chance  to  get  away.  They  had  been 
surprised  with  a  larger  force  than  they  had  expected 
to  see  in  that  part  of  the  country.  The  fight  was 
continued  until  dark,  when  the  Indians  took  to  the 
hills  and  annoyed  the  troops  by  firing  down  upon 
them  from  the  bluffs.  Several  times  during  the  night 
the  command  was  ordered  out  to  dislodge  them; 
Next  morning  not  a  redskin  was  to  be  found  in  the 
neighborhood. 

The  cavalry  struck  out  on  the  trail,  and  soon  came 
to  the  spot  where  the  Indians  had  camped  the  day 
before.  It  could  easily  be  seen  that  the  village  was 
a  very  large  one,  consisting  of  about  five  hundred 
lodges;  and  the  command  pushed  forward  from  this 
point  on  the  trail  which  ran  back  toward  Prairie  Dog 
Creek. 

They  soon  came  in  sight  of  the  retreating  village, 
and  the  warriors  turned  back  to  give  them  battle. 
They  set  the  grass  on  fire  between  them  and  the 
troops  in  order  to  secure  as  much  delay  as  possible. 


THE    CHIEF    OF    SCOUTS  73 

The  cavalry  kept  up  a  running  fight  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  day,  the  Indians  repeatedly  attempting  tc? 
lead  them  off  the  track  of  their  flying  village,  but 
their  trail  was  easily  followed,  as  they  were  continu* 
ally  dropping  tepee  poles,  camp  kettles,  furs  and  all 
heavy  articles,  belonging  to  them.  They  were  evi- 
dently scattering  and  it  was  hard  for  the  cavalry  to 
keep  on  the  main  trail.  When  dark  set  in  the  com- 
mand went  into  camp,  it  being  useless  to  try  to  follow 
the  Indians  after  nightfall. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  the  Indians 
were  discovered  going  over  a  hill  some  distance  ahead 
of  the  cavalry,  and  when  they  saw  that  they  would 
be  overtaken,  the  main  body  of  warriors  once  more 
turned  back  and  fought  the  cavalry;  but  they  were 
continually  driven  back,  until  darkness  set  in,  and 
the  cavalry  camped  for  the  night. 

Next  mornng  it  was  found  that  the  Indians  had 
scattered  in  every  direction.  The  main  trail  was 
followed  up  to  the  Republican  River,  where  the 
cavalry  then  made  a  cut  off  and  went  north  towards 
the  Platte  River.  They  found  however,  that  the 
Indians  by  traveling  night  and  day  had  got  a  long 
start,  and  the  General  concluded  that  it  was  useless 
to  follow  them  any  further,  as  they  had  been  pushed 
so  hard  and  given  such  a  scare  that  they  would  leave 
the  Republican  country  and  go  north  across  the  Union 
Pacific  railroad. 

Buffalo  Bill  continued  to  act  as   Chief  of   Scouts 


76  BUFFALO    BILL 

until  1872,  and  had  many  exciting  fights  with  Indians. 
He  was  successful  in  all  his  expeditions,  and  was  a 
favorite  with  the  various  officers  of  the  army  under 
whom  he  did  service,  including  such  distinguished 
generals  as  William  T.  Sherman,  Phil.  H.  Sheridan, 
Nelson  A.  Miles,  Eugene  A.  Carr,  James  B.  Fry, 
Wesley  Merritt,  W.  H.  Emory,  Col.  James.  W. 
Forsyth,  and  many  other  officers  under  whom  he 
served  directly  as  guide,  scout  and  Indian  fighter. 

General  Sheridan's  estimate  of  the  value  of  his 
services  as  guide  and  scout,  as  expressed  in  that 
officer's  "Autobiography,"  will  serve  to  show  why 
Buffalo  Bill  was  held  in  such  high  favor  by  the  fighting 
officers  of  the  army. 

After  describing  the  difficulties  encountered  in  con- 
ducting a  campaign  against  the  Indians  on  the  blizzard- 
swept  plains  of  the  northwest  in  the  winter  of  '68, 
he  says: 

"The  difficulties  and  hardships  to  be  encountered 
had  led  several  experienced  officers  of  the  army  and 
some  frontiersmen,  like  old  Jim  Bridger,  the  famous 
scout  and  guide  of  earher  days,  to  discourage  the 
project.  I  decided  to  go  in  person,  bent  on  showing 
the  Indians  that  they  were  not  secure  from  punish- 
ment because  of  inclement  weather — an  ally  on  which 
they  had  hitherto  relied  with  much  assurance.  We 
started,  and  the  very  first  night  a  blizzard  struck  us 
and  carried  away  our  tents.  The  gale  was  so  violent 
that  they  could  not  be  put   up   again;  the  rain   and 


THE    CHIEF   OF   SCOUTS  77 

snow  drenched  us  to  the  skin.  Shivering  from  wel 
and  cold,  I  took  refuge  under  a  wagon,  and  there 
spent  such  a  miserable  night  that  when  morning  came 
the  gloomy  predictions  of  old  man  Bridger  and  others 
rose  up  before  me  with  greatly  increased  force.  The 
difficulties  were  now  fully  realized;  the  blinding  snow, 
mixed  with  sleet;  the  piercing  wind,  thermometer 
below  zero — with  green  bushes  only  for  fuel — occa- 
sioning intense  suffering.  Our  numbers  and  compan- 
ionship alone  prevented  us  from  being  lost  or  perish- 
ing, a  fate  that  stared  in  the  face  the  frontiersmen, 
guides,  and  scouts  on  their  solitary  missions. 

"An  important  matter  had  been  to  secure  compe- 
tent guides  for  the  different  columns  of  troops,  for, 
as  I  have  said,  the  section  of  country  to  be  operated 
in  was  comparatively  unknown. 

"In  those  days  the  railroad  town  of  Hays  City  was 
filled  with  so-called  *  Indian  scouts,*  whose  common 
boast  was  of  having  slain  scores  of  redskins;  but  the 
real  scout — that  is,  a  guide  and  trailer  knowing  the 
habits  of  the  Indians — was  very  scarce,  and  it  was 
hard  to  find  anybody  familiar  with  the  country  south 
of  the  Arkansas,  where  the  campaign  was  to  be  made. 
Still,  about  the  various  military  posts  there  was  some 
good  material  to  select  from,  and  we  managed  to 
employ  several  men,  who,  from  their  experience  on  the 
plains  in  various  capacities,  or  from  natural  instincts 
and  aptitude,  soon  became  excellent  guides  and 
courageous  and  valuable  scouts,  some  of  them,  indeed. 


78  BUFFALO   BILL 

gaining  much  distinction.  Mr.  William  F.  Cody 
(* Buffalo  Bill'),  whose  renown  has  since  become 
world-wide,  was  one  of  the  men  thus  selected.  He 
received  his  sobriquet  from  his  marked  success  in  kill- 
ing buffaloes  to  supply  fresh  meat  to  the  construction 
parties  on  the  Kansas  Pacific  Railroad.  He  had  lived 
from  boyhood  on  the  plains  and  passed  every  experi- 
ence— herder,  hunter,  pony-express  rider,  stage- 
driver,  wagonmaster  in  the  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment, and  scout  of  the  army,  and  was  first  brought 
to  my  notice  by  distinguishing  himself  in  bringing  me 
an  important  dispatch  from  Fort  Larned  to  Fort 
Hays,  a  distance  of  sixty-five  miles,  through  a  section 
infested  with  Indians.  The  dispatch  informed  me 
that  the  Indians  near  Larned  were  preparing  to  de- 
camp, and  this  intelligence  required  that  certain 
orders  should  be  carried  to  Fort  Dodge,  ninety-five 
miles  south  of  Hays.  This  too  being  a  particularly 
dangerous  route — several  couriers  having  been  killed 
on  it — ^it  was  impossible  to  get  one  of  the  various 
Petes,  Jacks,  or  Jims  hanging  around  Hays  City  to 
take  my  communication.  Cody,  learning  of  the 
strait  I  was  in,  manfully  came  to  the  rescue,  and  pro- 
posed to  make  the  trip  to  Dodge,  though  he  had  just 
finished  his  long  and  perilous  ride  from  Larned.  I 
gratefully  accepted  his  offer,  and  after  a  short  rest  he 
mounted  a  fresh  horse  and  hastened  on  his  journey, 
halting  but  once  to  rest  on  the  way,  and  then  only 
for  an  hour,  the  stop  being   made   at    Coon   Creek, 


CATCHING    HORSE    THIEVES  79 

where  he  got  another  mount  from  a  troop  of  cavalry. 
At  Dodge  he  took  some  sleep,  and  then  continued 
on  to  his  own  post — Fort  Larned — with  more  dis- 
patches. After  resting  at  Larned  he  was  again  in 
the  saddle  with  tidings  for  me  at  Fort  Hays,  General 
Hazen  sending  him  this  time  with  word  that  the 
villages  had  fled  to  the  south  of  the  Arkansas.  Thus, 
in  all,  Cody  rode  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
in  less  than  sixty  hours,  and  such  an  exhibition  of 
endurance  and  courage  at  that  time  of  the  year,  and 
in  such  weather,  was  more  than  enough  to  convince 
me  that  his  services  would  be  extremely  valuable  in 
the  campaign,  so  I  retained  him  at  Fort  Hays  till  the 
battalion  of  the  Fifth  Cavalry  arrived,  and  then 
made  him  chief  of  scouts." 


CHAPTER  Xni. 

CATCHING  HORSE  THIEVES. 

The  fact  is  not  generally  known  that  Buffalo  Bill 
is  as  proficient  in  the  matter  of  catching  horse-thieves 
as  he  is  in  hunting  buffaloes  and  fighting  Indians. 

But  the  following  incident  which  took  place  while 
Buffalo  Bill  was  engaged  by  the  government  as  a 
guide  and  scout,  as  related  by  him  in  his  autobiogra- 
phy, establishes  his  reputation  in  that  respect  beyond 
any  dispute: 

"In  a  few  minutes  more  I  was  on  my  way  to  Sher- 


8o  BUFFALO    BILL 

idan,  and  after  settling  my  business  there,  I  proceeded 
to  Fort  Lyon,  arriving  two  days  afterward. 

"Tm  glad  you've  come,  Bill,'  said  General  Carr, 
*as  I  have  been  wanting  you  for  the  last  two  weeks. 
While  we  have  been  at  this  post  several  valuable 
animals,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  government 
horses  and  mules  have  been  stolen,  and  we  think  the 
thieves  are  still  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  but  as  yet 
we  have  been  unable  to  discover  their  rendezvous. 
I  have  had  a  party  out  for  the  last  few  days  in  the 
neighborhood  of  old  Fort  Lyon,  and  they  have  found 
fresh  tracks  down  there  and  seem  to  think  that  the 
stock  is  concealed  somewhere  in  the  timber,  along 
the  Arkansas  river.  Bill  Green,  one  of  the  scouts 
who  is  just  up  from  there,  can  perhaps  tell  you  some- 
thing more  about  the  matter." 

Green,  who  had  been  summoned,  said  that  he  had 
discovered  fresh  trails  before  striking  the  heavy  tim- 
ber opposite  old  Fort  Lyon,  but  that  in  the  tall  grass 
he  could  not  follow  them.  He  had  marked  the  place 
where  he  had  last  seen  fresh  mule  tracks,  so  that  he 
could  find  it  again. 

"*Now,  Cody,  you're  just  the  person  we  want,'  said 
the  General. 

"*Very  well,  I'll  get  a  fresh  mount,  and  to-morrow 
I'll  go  down  and  see  what  I  can  discover,'  said  I. 

"*You  had  better  take  two  men  besides  Green,  and 
a  pack  mule  with  eight  or  ten  day's  rations, '  suggested 
the  General,  *so  that  if  vou   find   the   trail  you   can 


CATCHING    HORSE    THIEVES  8l 

follow  it  up,  as  I  am  very  anxious  ot  get  back  this 
stolen  property.  The  scoundrels  have  taken  one  of 
my  private  horses  and  also  Lieutenant  Forbush's 
favorite  little  black  race  mule. ' 

"Next  morning  I  started  out  after  the  horse-thieves, 
being  accompanied  by  Green,  Jack  Farley  and  another 
scout.  The  mule  track,  marked  by  Green,  was  easily 
found,  and  with  very  little  difficulty  I  followed  it  for 
about  two  miles  into  the .  timber  and  came  upon  a 
place  where,  as  I  could  plainly  see  from  numerous 
signs,  quite  a  number  of  head  of  stock  had  been  tied 
among  the  trees  and  kept  for  several  days.  This 
was  evidently  the  spot  where  the  thieves  had  been 
hiding  their  stolen  stock  until  they  had  accumulated 
quite  a  herd.  From  this  point  it  was  difficult  to  trail 
them,  as  they  had  taken  the  stolen  animals  out  of 
the  timber  one  by  one  and  in  different  directions,  thus 
showing  that  they  were  experts  at  the  business  and 
experienced  frontiersmen,  for  no  Indian  could  have 
exhibited  more  cunning  in  covering  up  a  trail  than 
did  they. 

"I  abandoned  the  idea  of  following  their  trail  in 
this  immediate  locality,  so  calling  my  men  together, 
I  told  them  that  we  would  ride  out  for  about  five 
miles  and  make  a  complete  circuit  about  the  place, 
and  in  this  way  we  would  certainly  find  the  trail  on 
which  they  had  moved  out.  While  making  the  circuit 
we  discovered  the  tracks  of  twelve  animals — four 
mules  and  eight  horses — in  the  edge   of  some  sand- 


82  BUFFALO    BILL 

hills,  and  from  this  point  we  had  no  trouble  in  trail- 
ing them  down  the  Arkansas  river,  which  they  had 
crossed  at  Sand  creek,  and  then  had  gone  up  the 
latter  stream,  in  the  direction  of  Denver,  to  which 
place  they  were  undoubtedly  bound.  When  nearing 
Denver  their  trail  became  so  obscure  that  we  at  last 
lost  it;  but  by  inquiring  of  the  settlers  along  the  road 
which  they  had  taken,  we  occasionally  heard  of  them. 

"When  within  four  miles  of  Denver — this  was  on  a 
Thursday — we  learned  that  the  horse-thieves  had 
passed  there  two  days  before.  I  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion they  would  attempt  to  dispose  of  the  animals  at 
Denver,  and  being  aware  that  Saturday  was  the  great 
auction  day  there,  I  thought  it  best  to  remain  where 
we  were,  at  a  hotel,  and  not  go  into  the  city  until 
that  day.  It  certainly  would  not  have  been  advisa- 
ble for  me  to  have  gone  into  Denver  meantime,  be- 
cause I  was  well  known  there,  and  if  the  thieves  had 
learned  of  my  presence  in  the  city  they  would  at  once 
have  suspected  my  business. 

"Early  Saturday  morning  we  rode  into  town  and 
stabled  our  horses  at  the  Elephant  corral.  I  secured 
a  room  from  Ed.  Chase,  overlooking  the  corral,  and 
then  took  up  my  post  of  observation.  I  did  not  have 
long  to  wait,  for  a  man  whom  I  readily  recognized  as 
one  of  our  old  packers,  rode  into  the  corral  mounted 
upon  Lieutenant  Forbush's  racing  mule,  and  leading 
another  government  mule,  which  I  also  identified. 
It  had  been  recently  branded,  and  over   the   *U.  S.' 


CATCHING    HORSE    THIEVES  83 

was  a  plain  *D.  B/  I  waited  for  the  man's  com- 
panion to  put  in  an  appearance,  but  he  did  not  come, 
and  my  conclusion  was  that  he  was  secreted  outside 
of  the  city  with  the  rest  of  the  animals. 

"Presently  the  black  mule  belonging  to  Forbush 
was  put  up  at  auction.  Now,  thought  I,  is  the  time 
to  do  my  work.  So,  walking  through  the  crowd, 
who  were  bidding  for  the  mule,  I  approached  the  man 
who  had  offered  him  for  sale.  He  recognized  me  and 
endeavored  to  escape,  but  I  seized  him  by  the 
shoulder,  saying:  *I  guess,  my  friend,  that  you'll 
have  to  go  with  me.  If  you  make  any  resistance, 
ril  shoot  you  on  the  spot.'  He  was  armed  with  a 
pair  of  pistols,  which  I  took  away  from  him.  Then 
informing  the  auctioneer  that  I  was  a  United  States 
detective,  and  showing  him — as  well  as  an  inquisitive 
officer — my  commission  as  such,  I  told  him  to  stop 
the  ^ale,  as  the  mule  was  stolen  property,  and  that  I 
had  arrested  the  thief,  whose  name  was  Williams. 

"Farley  and  Green,  who  were  near  at  hand,  now 
came  forward,  and  together  we  took  the  prisoner  and 
the  mules  three  miles  down  the  Platte  River;  there, 
in  a  thick  bunch  of  timber,  we  all  dismounted  and 
made  preparations  to  hang  Williams  from  a  limb,  if 
he  did  not  tell  us  where  his  partner  was.  At  first  he 
denied  knowing  anything  about  any  partner,  or  any 
other  stock;  but  when  he  saw  that  we  were  in 
earnest,  and  would  hang  him  at  the  end  of  the  given 
time — five  minutes — unless  he  'squealed,'  he  told  us 


84  BUFFALO    BILL 

that  his  *par  was  at  an  unoccupied  house  three  miles 
further  down  the  river. 

We  immediately  proceeded  to  the  spot  indicated, 
and  as  we  came  within  sight  of  the  house  we  saw  our 
stock  grazing  near  by.  Just  as  we  rode  up  to  the 
door,  another  one  of  our  old  packers,  whom  I  recog- 
nized as  Bill  Bevins,  stepped  to  the  front  and  I 
covered  him  instantly  with  my  rifle  before  he  could 
draw  his  revolver.  I  ordered  him  to  throw  up  his 
hands,  and  be  obeyed  the  command.  Green  then 
disarmed  him  and  brought  him  out.  We  looked 
through  the  house  and  found  their  saddles,  pack- 
saddles,  blankets,  overcoats,  lariats  and  two  Henry 
rifles,  which  we  took  possession  of.  The  horses  and 
mules  we  tied  in  a  bunch,  and  with  the  whole  outfit 
we  returned  to  Denver,  where  we  lodged  Williams 
and  Bevins  in  jail,  in  charge  of  my  friend,  Sheriff 
Edward  Cook.  The  next  day  we  took  them  out,  and 
tying  each  one  on  a  mule  we  struck  out  on  our  return 
trip  to  Fort  Lyon. 

"At  the  hotel  outside  the  city,  where  we  had 
stopped  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  we  were  joined  by 
our  man  with  the  pack  mule.  That  night  we  camped 
on  Cherry  creek,  seventeen  miles  from  Denver.  The 
weather — it  being  in  April — was  cold  and  stormy,  but 
we  found  a  warm  and  cosy  camping  place  in  a  bend  of 
the  creek.  We  made  our  beds  in  a  row,  with  our 
feet  towards  the  fire.  The  prisoners  so  far  had  ap- 
peared very  docile,  and   had    made   no    attempt   to 


CATCHING    HORSE    THIEVES  85 

escape,  and  therefore  I  did  not  think  it  necessary  to 
hobble  them.  We  made  them  sleep  on  the  inside, 
and  it  was  so  arranged  that  some  one  of  us  should  be 
on  guard  all  the  time. 

At  about  one  o'clock  in  the  night  it  began  snow- 
ing, while  I  was  watching.  Shortly  before  three 
o'clock,  Jack  Farley,  who  was  then  on  guard,  and 
sitting  on  the  foot  of  the  bed,  with  his  back  to  the 
prisoners,  was  kicked  clear  into  the  fire  by  Williams, 
and  the  next  moment  Bevins,  who  had  got  hold  of 
his  shoes — which  I  had  thought  were  out  of  his  reach 
— sprang  up  and  jumped  over  the  fire,  and  started  on 
a  run.  I  sent  a  shot  after  him  as  soon  as  I  awoke 
sufficiently  to  comprehend  what  was  taking  place. 
Williams  attempted  to  follow  him,  and  as  he  did  so 
I  whirled  around  and  knocked  him  down  with  my 
revolver.  Farley  by  this  time  had  gathered  himself 
out  of  the  fire,  and  Green  had  started  after  Bevins, 
firing  at  him  on  the  run;  but  the  prisoner  made  his 
escape  into  the  bush.  In  his  flight,  unfortunately 
for  him,  and  luckily  for  us,  he  dropped  one  of  his 
shoes. 

"Leaving  Williams  in  the  charge  of  Farley  and 
*Long  Doc,*  as  we  called  the  man  with  the  pack 
mule.  Green  and  myself  struck  out  after  Bevins  as 
fast  as  possible.  We  heard  him  breaking  through 
the  brush,  but  knowing  that  it  would  be  useless  to 
follow  him  on  foot,  we  went  back  to  the  camp  and 
saddled  up  two  of  the  fastest  horses,  and  at  daylight 


86  BUFFALO    BILL 

we  struck  out  on  his  trail,  which  was  plainly  visible 
in  the  snow.  He  had  got  an  hour  and  a  half  the  start 
of  us.  His  tracks  led  us  in  the  direction  of  the 
mountains  and  the  South  Platte  River,  and,  as  the 
country  through  which  he  was  passing  was  covered 
with  prickly  pears,  we  knew  that  he  could  not  escape 
stepping  on  them  with  his  bare  foot,  and  hence  we 
were  likely  to  overtake  him  in  a  short  time.  We 
could  see,  however,  from  the  long  jumps  that  he  was 
taking  he  was  making  excellent  time,  but  we  frequently 
noticed,  after  we  had  gone  some  distance,  that  the 
prickly  pears  and  stones  along  his  route  were  cutting 
his  bare  feet,  as  nearly  every  track  was  spotted  with 
blood. 

"We  had  run  our  horses  some  twelve  miles  when 
we  saw  Bevins  crossing  a  ridge  about  two  miles  ahead. 
Urging  our  horses  up  to  their  utmost  speed,  we 
reached  the  ridge  just  as  he  was  descending  the  divide 
towards  the  South  Platte,  which  stream  was  very 
deep  and  swift  at  this  point.  It  became  evident  that 
if  he  should  cross  it  ahead  of  us,  he  would  have  a 
good  chance  of  making  his  escape.  So  pushing  our 
steeds  as  fast  as  possible,  we  rapidly  gained  on  him, 
and  when  within  a  hundred  yards  of  him  I  cried  to 
him  to  halt  or  I  would  shoot.  Knowing  I  was  a  good 
shot,  he  stopped,  and  coolly  sitting  down  waited  til] 
we  came  up. 

•** Bevins,  you've  given  us  a  good  run,'  said  I. 

"'Yes,'  said  he.  'and  if  I  had   had  fifteen  minutes 


CATCHING    HORSE   THIEVES  87 

more  of  a  start,  and  got   across    the   Platte,  I  would 
have  laughed  at  the  idea  of  your  ever  catching  me.  * 

"Bevins'  run  was  the  most  remarkable  feat  of  the 
kind  ever  known,  either  of  a  white  man,  or  an  Indian. 
A  man  who  could  run  bare-footed  in  the  snow  eighteen 
miles  through  a  prickly  pear  patch,  was  certainly  a 
*tough  one,'  and  that's  the  kind  of  a  person  Bill 
Bevins  was.  Upon  looking  at  his  bleeding  foot  I 
really  felt  sorry  for  him.  He  asked  me  for  my  knife, 
and  I  gave  him  my  sharp-pointed  bowie,  with  which 
he  dug  the  prickly  pear  briars  out  of  his  foot.  I 
considered  him  as  'game*  a  man  as  I  had  ever  met. 

"*Bevins,  I  have  got  to  take  you  back,*  said  I,  *but 
as  you  can't  walk  with  that  foot,  you  can  ride  my 
horse  and  1*11  foot  it.* 

"We  accordingly  started  back  for  our  camp,  with 
Bevins  on  my  horse,  which  was  led  either  by  Green 
or  myself,  as  we  alternately  rode  the  other  horse. 
We  kept  a  close  watch  on  Bevins,  for  we  had  ample 
proof  that  he  needed  watching.  His  wounded  foot 
must  have  pained  him  terribly  but  not  a  word  of 
complaint  escaped  him.  On  arriving  at  the  camp 
we  found  Williams  bound  as  we  had  left  him  and 
he  seemed  sorry  that  we  had  captured  Bevins. 

"After  breakfasting  we  resumed  our  journey,  and 
nothing  worthy  of  note  again  occurred  until  we 
reached  the  Arkansas  river,  where  we  found  a  vacant 
cabin  and  at  once  took  possession  of  it  for  the  night. 
There  was  no  likelihood  of   Bevins  again   trying  to 


88  BUFFALO    BILL 

escape,  for  his  foot  had  swollen  to  an  enormous  size 
and  was  useless.  Believing  that  Williams  could  not 
escape  from  the  cabin,  we  unbound  him.  We  then 
went  to  sleep,  leaving  Long  Doc  on  guard,  the  cabin 
being  comfortably  warmed  and  well  lighted  by  the 
fire.  It  was  a  dark,  stormy  night — so  dark  that  you 
could  hardly  see  your  hand  before  you.  At  about 
ten  o'clock  Wilhams  asked  Long  Doc  to  allow  him 
to  step  to  the  door  for  a  moment. 

Long  Doc,  who  had  his  revolver  in  his  hand,  did 
not  think  it  necessary  to  wake  us  up,  and  believing 
that  he  could  take  care  of  the  prisoner,  he  granted 
his  request.  Williams  thereupon  walked  to  the  outer 
edge  of  the  door,  while  Long  Doc,  revolver  in  hand, 
was  watching  from  the  inside.  Suddenly  Williams 
made  a  spring  to  the  right,  and  before  Doc  could 
even  raise  his  revolver,  he  had  dodged  around  the 
house.  Doc  jumped  after  him,  and  fired  just  as  he 
turned  a  corner,  the  report  bringing  us  all  to  our  feet, 
and  in  an  instant  we  knew  what  had  happened.  I 
at  once  covered  Bevins  with  my  revolver,  but  as  I 
saw  he  could  hardly  stir,  and  was  making  no  demon- 
stration I  lowered  the  weapon.  Just  then  Doc  came 
in  swearing  *a  blue  streak,'  and  announced  that 
Williams  had  escaped.  There  was  nothing  for  us  to 
do  except  to  gather  our  horses  close  to  the  cabin  and 
stand  guard  over  them  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  Williams  sneaking  up  and 
stealing  one  of  them.  That  was  the  last  I  ever  saw 
or  heard  of  Williams. 


CATCHING    HORSE    THIEVES  89 

"We  finally  got  back  to  Fort  Lyon  with  Bevins, 
and  General  Carr,  lo  whom  I  immediately  reported, 
complimented  us  highly  on  the  success  of  our  trip, 
notwithstanding  we  had  lost  one  prisoner.  The  next 
day  we  took  Bevins  to  Boggs'  ranch  on  Picket  Wire 
creek,  and  there  turned  him  over  to  the  civil  author- 
ities, who  put  him  in  a  log  jail  to  await  his  trial. 
He  was  never  tried,  however,  for  he  soon  made  his 
escape,  as  I  expected  he  would.  I  heard  no  more 
of  him  until  1872,  when  I  learned  that  he  was  skir- 
mishing around  on  Laramie  plains  at  his  old  tricks. 
He  sent  word  by  the  gentleman  from  whom  I  gained 
this  information,  that  if  he  ever  met  me  again  he 
would  kill  me  on  sight.  He  was  finally  arrested  and 
convicted  for  robbery,  and  was  confined  in  the  prison 
at  Laramie  City.  Again  he  made  his  escape,  and 
soon  afterwards  he  organized  a  desperate  gang  of 
outlaws  who  infested  the  country  north  of  the  Union 
Pacific  railroad,  and  when  the  stages  began  to  run 
between  Cheyenne  and  Deadwood,  in  the  Black 
Hills,  they  robbed  the  coaches  and  passengers,  fre- 
quently making  large  hauls  of  plunder.  They  kept 
this  up  for  some  time,  till  finally  most  of  the  gang 
were  caught,  tried,  convicted  and  sent  to  the  peni- 
tentiary for  a  number  of  years.  Bill  Bevins  and 
nearly  all  of  his  gang  are  now  confined  in  the 
Nebraska  State  prison,  to  which  they  were  transferred 
from  Wyoming." 


90  BUFFALO   BILL 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  COWBOYS. 

As  Buffalo  Bill's  great  Wild  West  would  be  very 
incomplete  without  its  contingent  of  cowboys,  so  any 
account  of  the  famous  scout's  life  would  be  lacking 
in  an  important  particular  if  it  contained  no  chapter 
devoted  to  their  description. 

"The  following  interesting  and  truthful  account  of 
the  American  cowboy  appeared  a  short  time  ago  in 
the  columns  of  Wilkes'  Spirit,  and  was  written  by 
the  celebrated  plainsman,  J.  B.  Omohundro,  famous 
the  world  over  under  the  name  of  Texas  Jack. 

The  cowboy!  How  often  spoken  of,  how  falsely 
imagined,  how  greatly  despised  (where  not  known), 
how  little  understood!  I've  been  there  considerable. 
How  sneeringly  referred  to,  and  how  little  appreci- 
ated, although  his  title  has  been  gained  by  the  pos- 
session of  many  of  the  noblest  qualities,  that  form 
the  romantic  hero  of  the  poet,  novelist,  and  historian; 
the  plainsman  and  the  scout.  What  a  school  it  has 
been  for  the  latter!  As  'tall  oaks  from  little  acorns 
grow,*  the  cowboy  serves  a  purpose,  and  often  de- 
velops into  the  most  celebrated  ranchman,  guide, 
cattle-king,  Indian  fighter,  and  dashing  ranger.  How 
old  Sam  Houston  loved  them,  how  the  Mexicans  hated 
them,  how  Davy   Crocket   admired  them,  hew  the 


THE   COWBOYS  91 

Comanches  feared  them,  and  how  much  yoa  beef- 
eaters of  the  rest  of  the  country  owe  to  them,  is  a 
large  sized  conundrum.  Composed  of  many,  to  the 
manner  born,  but  recruited  largely  from  Eastern 
young  men  they  were  taught  at  school  to  admire  the 
deceased  little  George,  in  exploring  adventures,  and, 
though  not  equalling  him  in  the  'Cherry-tree  good- 
ness,' were  more  disposed  to  kick  against  the  bull* 
dozing  of  teachers,  parents,  and  guardians, 

"As  the  rebellious  kid  of  old  times  filled  a  handker- 
chief (always  a  handkerchief,  I  believe)  with  his  all, 
and  followed  the  trail  of  his  idol,  Columbus,  and  be- 
came a  sailor  bold,  the  more  ambitious  and  advent- 
urous youngster  of  later  days  freezes  onto  a  double- 
barreled  pistol  and  steers  for  the  bald  prairie  to  seek 
fortune  and  experience.  If  he  don't  get  his  system 
full  its  only  because  the  young  man  weakens,  takes 
a  back  seat,  or  fails. to  become  a  Texas  cowboy.  If 
his  Sunday-school  ma'am  has  not  impressed  him 
thoroughly  with  the  chapter  about  our  friend  Job,  he 
may  at  first  be  astonished,  but  he*ll  soon  learn  the 
patience  of  the  old  hero,  and  think  he  pegged  out  a 
little  too  soon  to  take  it  all  in.  As  there  are  generally 
openings,  likely  young  fellows  can  enter,  and  not  fail 
to  be  put  through.  If  he  is  a  stayer,  youth  and  size 
will  be  no  disadvantage  for  his  start  in,  as  certain 
lines  of  the  business  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  the 
light  young  horseman,  and  such  are  highly  esteemed 
when  they  become  thoroughbreds,  and  fully  possessed 
f  *c«w  sense.' 


§2  BUFFALO    BILL 

"Now  *cow  sense'  in  Texas  implies  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  business,  and  a  natural  instinct  to 
divine  every  thought,  trick,  intention,  want,  habit, 
or  desire  of  his  drove,  under  any  and  all  circum- 
stances. A  man  might  be  brought  up  in  the  states 
swinging  to  a  cow's  tail,  yet,  taken  to  Texas,  would 
be  as  useless  as  a  last  year's  bird's  nest  with  the 
bottom  punched  out. 

"The  boys  grow  old  soon,  and  the  old  cattle-men 
seem  to  grow  young;  thus  it  is  that  the  name  is 
applied  to  all  who  follow  the  trade.  The  boys  are 
divided  into  range-workers  and  branders,  road  driver 
and  herder,  trail-guides  and  bosses. 

"As  the  railroads  have  now  put  an  end  to  the  old- 
time  trips,  I  will  have  to  go  back  a  few  years  to  give 
a  proper  estimate  of  the  duties  and  dangers,  delights 
and  joys,  trials  and  troubles,  when  off  the  ranch. 
The  ranch  itself  and  the  cattle  trade  in  the  States 
still  flourish  in  their  old-time  glory,  but  are  being 
slowly  encroached  upon  by  the  modern  improvements 
that  will,  in  course  of  time,  wipe  out  the  necessity  of 
his  day,  the  typical  subject  of  my  sketch.  Before 
being  counted  in  and  fully  indorsed,  the  candidate 
has  had  to  become  an  expert  horseman,  and  test  the 
many  eccentricities  of  the  stubborn  mustang;  enjoy 
the  beauties,  learn  to  catch,  throw,  fondle — oh!  yes, 
gently  fondle  (but  not  from  behind) — and  ride  the 
'docile*  little  Spanish-American  plug,  an  amusing 
experience  in  itself,  in  which  you  are  taught   all  the 


THE    COWBOYS  93 

mysteries  of  rear  and  tear,  stop  and  drop,  lay  and  roll, 
kick  and  bite,  on  and  off,  under  and  over,  heads  and 
tails,  hand  springs,  triple  somersaults,  standing  on 
your  head,  diving,  flip  flaps,  getting  left  (horse  leaving 
you  fifteen  miles  from  camp — Indians  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, etc.),  and  all  the  funny  business  included 
in  the  familiar  term  of  'bucking;'  then  learn  to  handle 
a  rope,  catch  a  calf,  stop  a  crazy  cow,  throw  a  beef 
steer,  play  with  a  wild  bull,  lasso  an  untamed  mus- 
tang, and  daily  endure  the  dangers  of  a  Spanish 
matador,  with  a  little  Indian  scrape  thrown  in,  and 
if  there  is  anything  left  of  you  they'll  christen  it  a 
first-class  cowboy.  Now  his  troubles  begin  (I  have 
been  worn  to  a  frizzled  end  many  times  before  I  be- 
gan); but  after  this  he  will  learn  to  enjoy  them— after 
they  are  over. 

"As  the  general  trade  on  the  range  has.  often  been 
described,  I'll  simply  refer  to  a  few  incidents  of  a 
trip  over  the  plains  to  the  cattle  markets  of  the 
North,  through  the  wild  and  unsettled  portions  of  the 
Territories,  varying  in  distance  from  fifteen  hundred 
to  two  thousand  miles — time,  three  to  six  months — 
extending  through  the  Indian  Territory  and  Kansas 
to  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Dakota,  Montana,  Idaho, 
Nevada  and  sometimes  as  far  as  California.  Immense 
herds,  as  high  as  thirty  thousand  or  more  in  number, 
are  moved  by  single  owners,  but  are  driven  in  bands 
of  from  one  to  three  thousand,  which,  when  under 
way,    are   designated   *  herds.'     Each   of    these   has 


94  BUFFALO    BILL 

from  ten  to  fifteen  men,  with  a  wagon-driver  and 
cook,  and  the  'kingpin  of  the  outfit,'  the  boss,  with 
a  supply  of  two  or  three  ponies  to  a  man,  an  ox  team, 
and  blankets;  also  jerked  beef  and  corn  meal — the 
staple  food.  They  are  also  furnished  with  mavericks 
or  'doubtless-owned'  yearlings  for  the  fresh  meat 
supply.  After  getting  fully  under  way,  and  the  cattle 
broke  in,  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  a  day  is  the 
average,  and  everything  is  plain  sailing  in  fair 
weather.  As  night  comes  on,  the  cattle  are  rounded 
up  in  a  small  compass,  and  held  until  they  lie  down, 
when  two  men  are  left  on  watch,  riding  round  and 
round  them  in  opposite  directions,  singing  or  whist- 
ling all  the  time,  for  two  hours,  that  being  the  length 
of  each  watch.  The  singing  is  absolutely  necessary, 
as  it  seems  to  soothe  the  fears  of  the  cattle,  scares 
away  the  wolves  or  other  varmints  that  may  be  prowl- 
ing around,  and  prevents  them  from  hearing  any  other 
accidental  sound,  or  dreaming  of  their  old  homes,  and 
if  stopped  would,  in  all  probability,  be  the  signal  for 
a  general  stampede.  *  Music  hath  charms  to  soothe 
the  savage  breast,'  if  a  cowboy's  compulsory  bawling 
out  lines  of  his  own  composition: 

Lay  nicely  qow,  cattle,  don't  heed  any  rattle, 

But  quietly  rest  until  morn; 
For  if  you  skedaddle,  we'll  jump  in  the  saddle^ 

And  head  you  as  sure  as  you're  born. 

can  be  considered  such. 

Some  poet  may  yet  make  a  hit 

On  the  ends  and  odds  of  cow-boys*  wit 


THE    COWBOYS  95 

"But  on  nights  when  *01d  Prob'  goes  on  a  spree, 
leaves  the  bung  out  of  his  water-barrel  above,  prowls 
around  with  his  flash-box,  raising  a  breeze,  whisper- 
ing in  tones  of  thunder,  and  the  cowboy's  voice,  like 
the  rest  of  the  outfit,  is  drowned  out,  steer  clear,  and 
prepare  for  action.  If  them  quadrupeds  don't  go 
insane,  turn  tail  to  the  storm,  and  strike  out  for 
civil  and  religious  liberty,  then  I  don't  know  what 
*strike  out'  means.  Ordinarily  so  clumsy  and  stupid- 
looking  a  thousand  beef  steers  can  rise  like  a  flock 
of  quail  on  the  roof  of  an  exploding  powder  mill,  and 
will  scud  away  like  a  tumble  weed  before  a  high 
wind,  with  a  noise  like  a  receding  earthquake.  Then 
comes  fun  and  frolic  for  the  boys ! 

"Talk  of  ^Sheridan's  ride,  twenty  miles  away!* 
That  was  in  the  daytime,  but  this  is  the  cowboy's 
ride  with  Texas  five  hundred  miles  away,  and  them 
steers  steering  straight  for  home;  night  time,  darker 
than  the  word  means,  hog  wallows,  prairie  dog,  wolf 
and  badger  holes,  ravines  and  precipices  ahead,  and 
if  you  do  your  duty,  three  thousand  stampeding 
steers  behind.  If  your  horse  don't  swap  ends,  and 
you  hang  to  them  until  daylight,  you  can  bless  your 
lucky  stars.  Many  have  passed  in  their  checks  at 
this  game.  The  remembrance  of  the  few  that  were 
footloose  on  the  Bowery  a  few  years  ago  will  give  an 
approximate  idea  of  the  three  thousand  raving  bovines 
en  the  war  path.  As  they  tear  through  the  storm  at 
oine  flash  of  lightning,  they  look  all  tails,  and  at  the 


96  BUFFALO    BILL 

next  flash  all  horns.  If  Napoleon  had  had  a  herd  at 
Sedan,  headed  in  the  right  direction,  he  would  have 
driven  old  Billy  across  the  Rhine. 

"The  next  great  trouble  is  in  crossing  streams,  which 
are  invariably  high  in  the  driving  season.  When 
cattle  strike  swimming  water  they  generally  try  to 
turn  back,  which  eventuates  in  their  *  milling, '  that 
is,  swimming  in  a  circle,  and  if  allowed  to  continue, 
would  result  in  the  drowning  of  many.  There  the 
daring  herder  must  leave  his  pony,  dofi  his  togs, 
scramble  over  their  backs  and  horns  to  scatter  them, 
and  with  whoops  and  yells,  splashing,  dashing,  and 
didoes  in  the  water,  scare  them  to  the  opposite  bank. 
This  is  not  always  done  in  a  moment,  for  a  steer  is 
no  fool  of  a  swimmer;  I  have  seen  one  hold  his  own 
for  six  hours  in  the  Gulf  after  having  jumped  over- 
board. As  some  of  the  streams  are  very  rapid,  and  a 
quarter  to  a  half-a-mile  wide,  considerable  drifting 
is  done.  Then  the  naked  herder  has  plenty  of  amuse- 
ment in  the  hot  sun,  fighting  green-head  flies  and 
mosquitoes,  and  peeping  around  for  Indians,  until  the 
rest  of  the  lay-out  is  put  over — not  an  easy  job.  A 
temporary  boat  has  to  be  made  of  the  wagon  box, 
by  tacking  the  canvas  cover  over  the  bottom,  with 
which  the  ammunition  and  grub  is  ferried  across,  and 
the  running  gear  and  ponies  are  swum  over  after- 
ward. Indian  fights  and  horse  thief  troubles  are  part 
of  the  regular  rations.  Mixing  with  other  herds  and 
cutting  them  out,  again  avoiding  too  much  water  at 


A    GUEST    OF    GOTHAM  97 

times,  and  hunting  for  a  drop  at  others,  belongs  to 
the  regular  routine. 

"Buffalo  chips  for  wood  a  great  portion  of  the  way 
(poor  substitute  in  wet  weather)  and  the  avoiding  of 
prairie  fires  later  on,  vary  the  monotony.  In  fact,  it 
would  fill  a  book  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  a  single 
trip,  and  it  is  no  wonder  the  boys  are  hilarious  when 
it  ends,  and,  like  the  old  toper,  swears  *no  more  for 
me,*  only  to  return  and  go  through    the   mill   again. 

"How  many,  though,  never  finish,  but  mark  the 
trail  with  their  silent  graves!  no  one  can  tell.  But 
when  Gabriel  toots  his  horn,  the*Chisholm  trail*  will 
swarm  with  cowboys.  ^Howsomever,  we'll  all  be 
thar,*  let's  hope  for  a  happy  trip,  when  we  say  to 
this  planet,  adiosT 


CHAPTER  XV. 

A  GUEST  OF  GOTHAM. 

In  September,  1871,  General  Sheridan  took  a  party 
of  his  New  York  friends,  among  them  James  Gordon 
Bennett,  of  the  New  York  Herald,  out  to  Post  Mc- 
Pherson  for  a  grand  buffalo  hunt. 

Buffalo  Bill,  at  the  instance  of  General  Sheridan, 
was  on  hand  to  act  as  scout  and  guide  to  the  party. 
He  was  introduced  by  the  general  to  each  of  his 
friends  individually,  and,  to  use  Buffalo  Bill's  own 
words,  given  "a  good  send-off." 


gS  BUFFALO    BILL 

Under  the  experienced  buffalo-hunter's  guidance, 
the  party  had  an  exceedingly  successful  hunt,  killing 
quite  a  number  of  buffaloes,  antelopes,  jack-rabbits 
and  turkeys. 

That  they  enjoyed  their  little  Wild  West  experi- 
ence goes  without  saying,  and  that  they  were  grate- 
ful to  Buffalo  Bill  for  the  part  he  contributed  towards 
making  it  a  success,  was  afterwards  proven,  when, 
at  their  invitation,  he  was  an  honored  guest  of 
Gotham. 

Some  time  after  this  high-toned  hunting-party  re- 
turned to  New  York,  Buffalo  Bill,  at  General  Sheri- 
dan's suggestion,  secured  a  thirty  days'  leave  of 
absence,  and  started  for  the  city  of  New  York,  in 
response  to  a  pressing  invitation  so  to  do  from  certain 
members  of  the  high-toned  hunting  party  for  whom 
he  had  so  satisfactorily  acted  as  guide. 

On  his  arrival  at  Chicago,  on  his  way  East,  Buffalo 
Bill  was  met  at  the  depot  by  Colonel  M.  V.  Sheridan, 
who  said  that  his  brother,  the  General,  had  not  yet 
returned,  but  had  sent  word  that  Buffalo  Bill  was  to 
be  his  and  the  Colonel's  guest,  at  his  house,  while 
he  remained  in  Chicago. 

He  spent  several  days  in  Chicago,  where  he  was 
kindly  received  and  right  royally  entertained  by  many 
of  her  prominent  citizens,  some  of  whom  had  met 
him  while  on  pleasure  excursions  in  the  West. 

From  Chicago  he  proceeded  to  New  York  where 
he  was  treated  as  a  prince.   His  own    account  of   his 


A   GUEST   OF    GOTHAM  99 

reception  and  treatment  by  his  New  York  friends,  as 
given  in  his  autobiography,  is  as  follows:  "On 
arriving  at  New  York  I  was  met  at  the  depot  by  Mr. 
J.  G.  Hecksher,  who  had  been  appointed  as  *a  com- 
mittee of  one*  to  escort  me  to  the  Union  Club,  where 
James  Gorden  Bennett,  Leonard  W.  Gerome  and 
others  were  to  give  me  an  informal  reception  and 
where  I  was  to  make  my  headquarters  during  my 
visit  to  the  great  Metropolis.  I  had  an  elegant  dinner 
at  the  club  rooms,  with  the  gentlemen  who  had  been 
out  on  the  September  hunt,  and  other  members  of 
the  club. 

"After  dinner,  in  company  with  Mr.  Hecksher — 
who  acted  as  my  guide —  I  started  out  on  the  trail  of 
my  friend,  Ned  Buntline,  whom  we  found  at  the 
Brevoort  Place  Hotel.  He  was  delighted  to  see  me, 
and  insisted  on  my  becoming  his  guest.  He  would 
listen  to  no  excuses,  and  on  introducing  me  to  Messrs. 
Overton  and  Blair,  proprietors  of  the  Brevoort, 
they  also  gave  me  a  pressing  invitation  to  make  my 
home  at  their  house.  I  finally  compromised  the 
matter  by  agreeing  to  divide  my  time  between  the 
Union  Club,  the  Breevoort  House,  and  Ned  Buntlin«'s 
headquarters. 

"The  next  few  days  I  spent  in  viewing  the  sights  of 
New  York,  everything  being  new  and  startlmg,  con- 
vincing me  that  as  yet  I  had  seen  but  a  small  portion 
of  the  world.  I  received  numerous  dinner  invitations, 
as  well  as  invitations  to  visit  different  places  of  amuse- 


lOO  BUFFALO    BILL 

ment  and  interest;  but  as  they  came  in  so  thick  and 
fast,  I  soon  became  badly  demoralized  and  confused. 
I  found  I  had  accepted  invitations  to  dine  at  half  a 
dozen  or  more  houses  on  the  same  day  and  at  the 
same  hour.  James  Gordon  Bennett  had  prepared 
a  dinner  for  me,  at  which  quite  a  large  number  of  his 
friends  were  to  be  present,  but  owing  to  my  confu- 
sion, arising  from  the  many  other  invitations  I  had 
received,  I  forgot  all  about  it  and  dined  elsewhere. 
This  was  *a  bad  break,'  but  I  did  not  learn  of  my 
mistake  until  next  day,  when  at  the  Union  Club 
House  several  gentlemen,  among  them  Lawrence 
Jerome,  inquired  where  in  the  world  I  had  been,  and 
why  I  had  not  put  in  an  appearance  at  Bennett's 
dinner.  They  said  that  Bennett  had  taken  great 
fains  to  give  me  a  splendid  reception,  that  the  party 
ted  waited  till  nine  o'clock  for  me  and  that  my  non- 
wrival  caused  considerable  disappointment.  I 
apologized  as  well  as  I  could  by  saying  that  I  had 
been  out  on  a  scout  and  had  got  lost  and  had  for- 
gotten all  about  the  dinner,  and  expressed  my  regret 
for  the  disappointment  I  had  created  by  my  forget- 
fulness.  August  Belmont,  the  banker,  being  near 
me,  said:  *  Never  mind,  gentlemen,  I'll  give  Cody 
a  dinner  at  my  house. ' 

"'Thank  you,  sir, '  said  I;  *I  see  you  are  determined 
that  I  shall  not  run  short  of  rations  while  I  am  in  the 
city.  I'll  be  there  sure!  Both  Mr.  Jerome  and  Mr. 
Hecksher  told  me  that    I   must    not   disappoint    Mr. 


A  GUEST  OP  GOTHAM  lOt 

Belmont,  for  his  dinners  were  splendid  affairs.  I 
made  a  note  of  the  date,  and  at  the  appointed  time  I 
was  promptly  at  Mr.  Belmont's  mansion,  where  I 
spent  a  very  enjoyable  evening. 

"Mr.  Bennett,  who  was  among  the  guests,  having 
forgiven  my  carelessness,  invited  me  to  accompany 
him  to  the  Liederkranz  masked  ball,  which  was  to 
take  place  in  a  few  evenings  and  would  be  a  grand 
spectacle.  Together  we  attended  the  ball  and  during 
the  evening  I  was  well  entertained.  The  dancers 
kept  on  their  masks  until  midnight,  and  the  merry 
and  motely  throng  presented  a  brilliant  scene,  moving 
gracefully  beneath  the  bright  gas-light  to  inspiriting 
music.  To  me  it  was  a  novel  and  entertaining  sight, 
and  in  many  respects  reminded  me  greatly  of  an 
Indian  war-dance. 

"Acting  upon  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Bennett,  I  had 
dressed  myself  in  my  buckskin  suit,  and  I  naturally 
attracted  considerable  attention;  especially  when  I 
took  part  in  the  dancing  and  exhibited  some  of  my 
backwoods  steps,  which,  although  not  as  graceful  as 
some,  were  a  great  deal  more  emphatic.  But  when 
I  undertook  to  do  artistic  dancing,  I  found  I  was  de- 
cidedly out  of  place  in  that  crowd,  and  I  accordingly 
withdrew  from  the  floor. 

"I  occasionally  passed  an  evening  at  Niblo's  Garden 
viewing  the  many  beauties  of  *The  Black  Crook,* 
which  was  then  having  its  long  run,  under  the  man- 
agement of  Jarrett  &  Palmer,  whose  acquaiataoc*   I 


lOa  BUFFALO   BILL 

had  made,  and  who  extended  to  me  the  freedom  of 
the  theatre. 

"Ned  Buntline  and  Fred  Maeder  had  dramatized 
one  of  the  stories  which  the  former  had  written  about 
me  for  the  New  York  Weekly.  The  drama  Was  called 
*  Buffalo  Bill,  the  King  of  Border  Men.*  While  I 
was  in  New  York  it  was  produced  at  the  Bowery 
Theatre;  J.  B.  Studley,  an  excellent  actor,  appear- 
ing in  the  character  of  *  Buffalo  Bill,'  and  Mrs.  W.  G. 
Jones,  a  fine  actress,  taking  the  part  of  my  sister,  a 
leading  role.  I  was  curious  to  see  how  I  would  look 
when  represented  by  some  one  else,  and  of  course  I 
was  present  on  the  opening  night,  a  private  box 
having  been  reserved  for  me.  The  theater  was  packed, 
every  seat  being  occupied  as  well  as  all  standing-room. 
The  drama  was  played  smoothly  and  created  a  great 
deal  of  enthusiasm. 

"The  audience,  upon  learning  that  the  real  *  Buffalo 
Biir  was  present,  gave  several  cheers  between  the 
acts,  and  I  was  called  on  to  come  out  on  the  stage 
and  make  a  speech.  Mr.  Freleigh,  the  manager,  in- 
sisted that  I  should  comply  with  the  request,  and 
that  I  should  be  introduced  to  Mr.  Studley.  I  finally 
consented,  and  the  next  moment  I  found  myself 
standing  behind  the  footlights  and  in  front  of  an 
audience  for  the  first  time  in  my  life.  I  looked  up, 
then  clown,  then  on  each  side,  and  everywhere  I  saw 
a  sea  of  human  faces,  and  thousands  of  eyes  all 
staring  at  me.     I  confess  that  I  felt  very   much   em- 


A  GUEST  OF   GOTHAM  I03 

barrassed — never  more  so  in  my  life — and  I  knew 
not  what  to  say.  I  made  a  desperate  effort,  and 
a  few  words  escaped  me,  but  what  they  were  I  could 
not  for  the  life  of  me  tell,  nor  could  any  one  else  in 
the  house.  My  utterances  were  inaudible  even  to 
the  leader  of  the  orchestra,  Mr.  Dean,  who  was 
sitting  only  a  few  feet  in  front  of  me.  Bowing  to  the 
audience,  I  beat  a  hasty  retreat  into  one  of  the 
canons  of  the  stage.  I  never  felt  more  relieved  in 
my  life  than  when  I  got  out  of  the  view  of  that  im- 
mense crowd. 

"That  evening  Mr.  Freleigh  offered  to  give  me  five 
hundred  dollars  a  week  to  play  the  part  of  'Buffalo 
Biir  myself.  I  thought  that  he  was  certainly  joking, 
especially  as  he  had  witnessed  my  awkward  perform- 
ance; but  when  he  assured  me  that  he  was  in  earnest, 
I  told  him  that  it  would  be  useless  for  me  to  attempt 
anything  of  the  kind,  for  I  never  could  talk  to  a 
crowd  of  people  like  that,  even  if  it  was  to  save  my 
neck,  and  that  he  might  as  well  try  to  make  an  actor 
out  of  a  government  mule.  I  thanked  him  for  the 
generous  offer,  which  I  had  to  decline  owing  to  a 
lack  of  confidence  in  myself;  or  as  some  people  might 
express  it,  I  didn't  have  the  requisite  cheek  to  under- 
take a  thing  of  that  sort.  The  play  of  *  Buffalo  Bill* 
had  a  very  successful  run  of  six  or  eight  weeks,  and 
was  afterwards  produced  in  all  the  principal  cities  of 
the  country,  everywhere  being  received  with  genuine 
enthusiasm. 


104  BUFFALO  BILL 

**I  had  been  in  New  York  about  twenty  days  when 
General  Sheridan  arrived  in  the  city.  I  met  him 
soon  after  he  got  into  town.  In  answer  to  a  question 
how  I  was  enjoying  myself,  I  replied  that  I  had  struck 
the  best  camp  I  had  ever  seen,  and  if  he  didn't  have 
any  objections  I  would  like  to  have  my  leave  of 
absence  extended  about  ten  days.  This  he  willingly 
did,  and  then  informed  me  that  my  services  would 
soon  be  required  at  Fort  McPherson,  as  there  was 
to  be  an  expedition  sent  out  from  that  point. 

"The  time  soon  arrived  for  my  departure  for  the 
West;  80  packing  up  my  traps  I  started  for  home.*' 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  mCHT  VISIT  TO  SPOTTED  TAIL'S  CAlfF. 

In  1872  the  Grand  Duke  Alexis,  of  Russia,  visited 
this  country,  and  having  met  General  Sheridan,  he 
expressed  to  him  a  desire  to  participate  in  a  buffalo 
hunt  somewhere  on  our  Western  plains. 

General  Sheridan  was  very  much  pleased  to  be 
able  to  afford  the  Grand  Duke  a  splendid  opportunity 
for  engaging  in  the  sport,  and  immediately  set  about 
making  preparations  for  a  grand  hunt  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  McPherson. 

General  Forsyth  and  Dr.  Asch,  of  his  staff,  were 
sent  out  to  the  fort  to  have  all  the  necessary  arrange- 


A   NIGHT   VISIT   TO    SPOTTED   TAIL'S   CAMP  IO5 

ments  perfected  by  the  time  the  Grand  Duke  should 
arrive.  Of  course  the  first  thing  they  did  was  to 
interview  Buffalo  Bill  in  the  matter,  and  learned 
from  him  that  there  were  at  the  time  plenty  of  buffa- 
loes in  the  vicinity,  and  especially  on  the  Red  Willow, 
sixty  miles  distant. 

General  Sheridan's  commissioners  then  inquired  of 
Buffalo  Bill  the  location  of  the  camp  of  Spotted  Tail, 
chief  of  the  Sioux  Indians.  He  informed  them  that 
it  was  his  opinion  that  the  camp  was  located  some- 
where on  the  Frenchman's  Fork,  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Fort  McPherson,  as  Spotted  Tail 
had  permission  from  the  Government  to  hunt  the 
buffalo  with  his  people  during  the  winter,  in  that 
portion  of  the  Republican  River  country. 

The  commissioners  then  informed  him  that  General 
Sheridan  wished  him  to  visit  Spotted  Tail's  camp, 
and  induce  about  one  hundred  of  the  leading  warriors 
and  chiefs  to  come  to  the  point  where  it  should  be 
decided  to  locate  the  Alexis  hunting  camp,  and  to  be 
there  by  the  time  the  Grand  Duke  should  arrive,  so 
that  he  could  see  a  body  of  American  Indians  and 
observe  the  manner  in  which  they  killed  buffaloes. 
The  Indians  would  also  be  called  upon  to  give  a  grand 
war-dance  in  honor  of  the  distinguished  visitor. 

Next  day  a  pleasant  camping  place  was  selected 
for  the  Alexis  party,  on  a  little  knoll  in  the  valley  of 
the  Red  Willow,  and  Buffalo  Bill  started  for  Spotted 
Tail's  camp.     In  his  autobiography  he  thus  describes 


I06  BUFFALO    BILL 

his  visit:  "The  weather  was  very  cold  and  I  found 
my  journey  by  no  means  pleasant  as  I  was  obliged 
to  camp  out  with  only  my  saddle  blankets;  and  be- 
sides, there  was  more  or  less  danger  from  the  Indians 
themselves;  for,  although  Spotted  Tail  himself  was 
friendly,  I  was  afraid  I  might  have  difficulty  in  getting 
into  his  camp.  I  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  run 
into  a  party  of  his  young  men  who  might  be  out 
hunting,  and  as  I  had  many  enemies  among  the 
Sioux,  I  would  be  running  considerable  risk  in  meet- 
ing them. 

"At  the  end  of  the  first  day  I  camped  on  Stinking 
Water,  a  tributary  of  the  Frenchman's  Fork,  where 
I  built  a  little  fire  in  the  timber;  but  it  was  so  very 
cold  I  was  not  able  to  sleep  much.  Getting  an  early 
start  in  the  morning  I  followed  up  the  Frenchman's 
Fork  and  late  in  the  afternoon  I  could  see,  from  the 
fresh  horse  tracks  and  from  the  dead  buffaloes  lying 
here  and  there,  recently  killed,  that  I  was  nearing 
Spotted  Tail's  camp.  I  rode  on  for  a  few  miles 
further,  and  then  hiding  my  horse  in  a  low  ravine,  I 
crawled  up  a  high  hill,  where  I  obtained  a  good  view 
of  the  country.  I  could  see  for  four  or  five  miles  up 
the  creek,  and  got  sight  of  a  village  and  of  two  or 
three  hundred  ponies  in  its  vicinity.  I  waited  until 
night  came  and  then  I  succeeded  in  riding  into  the 
Indian  camp  unobserved. 

"I  had  seen  Spotted  Tail's  camp  when  he  came 
from  the  north  and  I  knew  the  kind  of  lodge  he   was 


A  NIGHT  VISIT  TO  SPOTTED  TAIL'S  CAMP  I07 

living  in.  As  I  entered  the  village  I  wrapped  a 
blanket  around  my  head  so  that  the  Indians  could 
not  tell  vv^hether  I  was  a  white  or  a  red  man.  In  this 
way  I  rode  around  until  I  found  Spotted  Tail's  lodge. 
Dismounting  from  my  horse  I  opened  his  tent  door 
and,  looking  in,  saw  the  old  chief  lying  on  some  robes. 
I  spoke  to  him  and  he  recognized  me  at  once  and 
invited  me  to  enter.  Inside  the  lodge  I  found  a  white 
man,  an  old  frontiersman,  Todd  Randall,  who  was 
Spotted  Tail's  agent  and  who  had  lived  a  great  many 
years  with  the  Indians.  He  understood  their  language 
perfectly  and  did  all  the  interpreting  for  Spotted  Tail. 
Through  him  I  readily  communicated  with  the  chief 
and  informed  him  of  my  errand.  I  told  him  that  the 
warriors  and  chiefs  would  greatly  please  General 
Sheridan  if  they  would  meet  him  about  ten  sleeps  at 
the  old  Government  crossing  of  the  Red  Willow.  I 
further  informed  him  that  there  was  a  great  chief  from 
across  the  water  who  was  coming  there  to  visit  him. 
"Spotted  Tail  replied  that  he  would  be  very  glad 
to  go;  that  the  next  morning  he  would  call  his  people 
together  and  select  those  who  would  accompany  him. 
I  told  Spotted  Tail  how  I  had  entered  his  camp.  He 
replied  that  I  had  acted  wisely;  that  although  his 
people  were  friendly,  yet  some  of  his  young  men  had 
a  grudge  against  me,  and  I  might  have  had  difficulty 
with  them  had  I  met  them  away  from  the  village 
He  directed  his  squaw  to  get  me  something  to  eat, 
and  ordered  that  my   horse   be   taken    care  of,  and 


I08  BUFFALO   BILL 

upon  his  invitation  I  spent  the  remainder  of  the  night 
in  his  lodge. 

"Next  morning  the  chiefs  and  warriors  assembled 
according  to  orders,  and  to  them  was  stated  the 
object  of  my  visit.  They  were  asked:  *Do  you 
know  who  this  man  is?' 

"*Yes,  we  know  him  well,'  replied  one,  *thatis  Pa- 
he-has-ka,*  (that  being  my  name  among  the  Sioux, 
which  translated  means  *  Long-Hair')  *that  is  our  old 
enemy.'  A  great  many  of  the  Indians  who  were 
with  Spotted  Tail  at  this  time  had  been  driven  out  of 
the  Republican  country. 

"*That  is  he,'  said  Spotted  Tail.  *I  want  all  my 
people  to  be  kind  to  him  and  treat  him  as  my  friend. ' 

"I  noticed  that  several  of  them  were  looking  daggers 
at  me.  They  appeared  as  if  they  wished  to  raise  my 
hair  then  and  there.  Spotted  Tail  motioned  and  I 
followed  him  into  his  lodge,  and  thereupon  the  Indians 
dispersed.  Having  the  assurance  of  Spotted  Tail  that 
none  of  the  young  men  would  follow  me  I  started 
back  for  the  Red  Willow,  arriving  the  second  night." 

At  the  site  chosen  for  the  Alexis  camp,  Buffalo 
Bill  found  active  preparations  going  on  for  putting  up 
large  wall  tents  for  the  Grand  Duke  and  his  suite. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  ROYAL  BUFFALO  HUNT. 

On  his  return  to  the   Alexis  camp,    Buffalo    Bill 
found  active  preparations  going  on   for    putting  up 


A    ROYAL   BUFFALO    HUNT  I09 

large  wall  tents  for  the  grand  Duke  and  his  suite 
and  for  General  Sheridan,  his  staff  officers,  and  in- 
vited guests  of  the  party.  Proceeding  to  Fort  Mc- 
Pherson  he  reported  what  had  been  done.  There- 
upon seventy-five  of  the  very  best  horses  were  selected 
from  the  five  or  six  hundred  at  the  fort,  and  sent  to 
the  Red  Willow,  to  be  used  by  Alexis  and  his  party 
at  the  coming  hunt.  Two  days  later  a  large  supply 
of  bedding,  furniture,  provisions,  etc.,  arrived  from 
Chicago  for  the  use  of  the  Grand  Duke  and  his  party. 

A  day  or  so  later  the  Grand  Duke  Alexis  and  party 
arrived,  and  Buffalo  Bill  was  at  once  introduced  to 
the  royal  foreigner  by  General  Sheridan,  who  re- 
marked to  the  Grand  Duke  that  Buffalo  Bill  would 
take  charge  of  him  and  show  him  how  to  kill  buffalo. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  say  which  of  the  two  distin- 
guished individuals  thus  introduced  by  General  Sher- 
idan was  the  more  impressed  by  the  appearance  of 
the  person  to  whom  he  had  received  an  introduction. 

The  Grand  Duke  was  a  large,  fine  looking  young 
man,  and  looked  the  very  impersonation  of  Royalty. 
Buffalo  Bill  was  attired  in  his  best  hunting  suit,  was 
feeling  first  rate,  and  appeared  every  inch  the  suc- 
cessful scout,  guide  and  Indian  fighter  he  was  reputed 
to  be. 

That  the  Grand  Duke  had  been  thoroughly  posted 
by  General  Sheridan  as  to  Buffalo  Bill's  quahfica- 
tions  for  acting  as  a  guide  on  this  particular  occa- 
sion was  evident  from  the  confidence  with  which  he 


no  BUFFALO    BILL 

entrusted  himself  to  his  care  and  direction,  and  the 
pride  which  he  evidently  felt  when  Buffalo  Bill  loaned 
him  his  splendid  buffalo  horse  Buckskin  Joe  for  the 
occasion. 

That  evening  the  Indians,  who  had  arrived  at  the 
camp  as  per  arrangement,  gave  their  grand  war- 
dance,  much  to  the  entertainment  of  the  Grand  Duke. 

During  the  course  of  the  evening  Duke  Alexis 
asked  Buffalo  Bill  a  great  many  questions  as  to  how 
to  shoot  buffaloes,  and  wanted  to  know  what  kind  of 
a  gun  or  pistol  was  used.  Bill  told  him  that  it  was 
a  very  easy  thing  to  kill  buffaloes,  and  all  he  would 
have  to  do  would  be  to  sit  on  old  Buckskin  Joe's 
back  and  fire  away. 

Early  next  morning  the  party  were  all  in  their 
saddles  and  in  a  few  minutes  were  galloping  over  the 
prairies  in  search  of  a  buffalo  herd.  They  had  not 
gone  far  before  they  observed  a  herd  some  distance 
ahead  of  them  crossing  their  way;  after  which  they 
proceeded  cautiously,  so  as  to  keep  out  of  sight  until 
they  were  ready  to  make  a  charge. 

The  Grand  Duke  became  very  much  excited  imme- 
diately, and  wanted  to  charge  toward  the  buffaloes 
forthwith,  but  Buffalo  Bill  kept  him  back,  and  by 
keeping  behind  the  sand  hills  unobserved  gradually 
approached  near  to  the  herd. 

"Now  is  your  time!"  cried  Buffalo  Bill.  "You 
must  ride  as  fast  as  your  horse  will  go,  and  don't 
shoot  until  you  get  a  good  opportunity. " 


A    ROYAL    BUFFALO    HUNT  III 

Away  they  went,  tearing  down  the  hill  like  mad, 
throwing  up  a  sand-storm  in  their  rear,  and  leaving 
the  Duke's  retinue  far  behind.  When  within  a  hun- 
dred yards  of  the  fleeling  buffaloes  the  Duke  fired, 
but  unfortunately  missed,  being  unused  to  shooting 
from  a  running  horse. 

Buffalo  Bill  rode  up  close  to  his  side  and  advised 
him  not  to  f:re  until  he  could  ride  directly  upon  the 
flank  of  a  buffalo,  as  the  sport  was  most  in  the  chase. 
Without  further  words  from  either  both  hunters 
dashed  off  together  and  ran  their  horses  on  either 
flank  of  a  large  bull,  against  the  side  of  which  the 
Grand  Duke  thrust  his  gun  and  fired  a  fatal  shot. 
He  was  very  much  elated  at  his  success,  taking  off 
his  cap  and  waving  it  vehemently,  at  the  same  time 
shouting  to  those  who  were  fully  a  mile  in  the  rear. 
When  his  retinue  came  up  there  were  congratulations 
and  every  one  drank  to  his  good  health  with  over- 
flowing glasses  of  champagne.  The  hide  of  the  dead 
buffalo  was  carefully  removed  and  dressed,  and  the 
royal  traveler  in  his  journeyings  over  the  world  has 
no  doubt  often  rested  himself  upon  this  trophy  of  his 
skill  on  the  plains  of  America. 

There  are  those  who  pretend  to  assert  that  there 
is  something  suspicious  in  connection  with  the  shoot- 
ing of  that  buffalo  by  the  Grand  Duke  Alexis,  and 
even  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  Buffalo  Bill  held  the 
bull  by  the  horns  while  the  Grand  Duke  butchered  it. 
But  then  there  are   always    envious    and   suspicious 


112  BUFFALO    BILL 

people  everywhere  who  are  unwilling  to  accord  to  any 
one  the  just  meed  of  praise  earned  through  superior 
skill  or  bravery.  The  Grand  Duke,  undoubtedly, 
is  entitled  to  all  the  credit  he  ever  received  on  account 
of  the  animal's  slaughter. 

As  the  party  were  quite  fatigued  after  the  exciting 
affair  with  the  buffalo,  an  encampment  was  made, 
and  the  evening  pleasantly  passed  with  song  and 
story. 

On  the  following  morning,  by  request  of  Spotted 
Tail,  the  Grand  Duke  hunted  for  a  while  by  the  side 
of  "Two-Lance,"  a  celebrated  chief,  who  claimed  he 
could  send  an  arrow  entirely  through  the  body  of  the 
largest  buffalo.  This  feat  seemed  so  incredulous 
that  there  was  a  general  denial  of  his  ability  to  per- 
form it;  nevertheless,  the  Grand  Duke  and  also  sev- 
eral others  who  accompanied  the  chief,  witnessed, 
with  profound  astonishment,  an  accomplishment  of 
the  feat,  and  the  arrow  that  passed  through  the 
buffalo  was  given  to  the  Duke  as  a  memento  of  Two- 
Lance's  skill  and  power.  All  of  which  is  vouched 
for  by  Buffalo  Bill,  in  his  autobiography,  in  substan- 
tially the  same  words  as  it  is  above  given. 

When  the  Grand  Duke  was  satisfied  that  he  had 
had  enough  of  the  sport,  orders  were  given  for  the 
return  to  the  railroad.  And  so  ended  the  royal  buffalo 
hunt. 


WINNING    FAME    IN    A    NEW    FIELD  II3 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

WINNING  FAME  IN  A  NEW  FIELD. 

-  In  the  fall  of  1872  Buffalo  Bill,  very  unexpectedly 
to  himself,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Nebraska 
Legislature,  and  hence  derived  the  title  of  Honorable. 
While  serving  as  such  member  he  received  an  urgent 
letter  from  Ned  Buntline  to  come  East  and  appear 
on  the  stage  in  a  play  which  Buntline  was  certain 
would  prove  a  howling  success  if  Buffalo  Bill  would 
only  consent  to  take  part  in  it  as  the  hero  of  the 
drama. 

Bill's  friends  all  advised  him  against  taking  the 
step,  and  reminded  him  of  his  stage  fright  on  the 
occasion  of  his  appearance  on  the  stage  of  the  Bowery 
Theater. 

But  Buntline  had  written  him  a  series  of  letters, 
all  having  a  tendency  to  brace  him  up  for  the  final 
urgent  request  to  come  East  and  take  the  leading 
role  in  his  play,  and  they  had  the  desired  effect,  for 
Buffalo  Bill,  against  the  advice  of  General  Reynolds 
and  protest  of  his  friends  in  Nebraska,  resigned  both 
his  seat  in  the  Legislature  and  his  position  under 
General  Reynolds,  and  started  for  Chicago,  to  meet 
Mr.  Buntline. 

When  he  arrived  at  Chicago  he  found  that  Bunt- 
line had  not  yet  written  the  play,  but  that  he  had  it 


114  BUFFALO    BILL 

all  in  his  head.  Some  tall  hustling  was  done  to  get 
the  play  written  and  rehearsed.  Buntline  named  his 
play  "Scouts  of  the  Plains,"  and  within  a  week  after 
Buffalo  Bill  had  arrived  in  Chicago  it  had  been 
written,  rehearsed  and  placed  on  the  boards  of  the 
Amphitheater. 

Whether  from  stage  fright  or  for  want  of  sufficient 
study  of  his  part,  when  Buffalo  Bill  came  on  the 
stage,  he  could  not  remember  one  word  of  the  speech 
he  was  expected  to  make. 

Ned  Buntline,  who  also  had  a  part  in  the  play  re- 
peatedly gave  him  the  "cue,"  but  to  no  effect,  the 
words  wouldn't  come.  Buntline,  however,  was 
sufficient  for  the  emergency.  Slapping  Bill  on  the 
back,  he  shouted,  as  if  it  were  a  part  of  the  play: 

"Where  have  you  been,  Bill?  What  has  kept  you 
so  long.?" 

Glancing  up  into  one  of  the  boxes  where  his  friend 
Mr.  Milligan,  a  very  popular  man  and  widely  known 
in  Chicago,  was  seated  with  some  friends,  Buffalo  Bill 
cried  out: 

"I  have  been  out  on  a  hunt  with  Milligan." 

The  "hit"  was  immense,  and  the  theater  echoed 
again  and  again  with  applause. 

The  fact  was,  and  it  was  known  to  many  in  the 
audience,  that  Milligan  had  but  recently  been  out 
West  and  met  with  an  amusing  adventure  in  way  of 
an  alleged  buffalo  hunt  and  fight  with  Indians. 

Buntline  took  the  "cue,"  and  followed  his  first  im- 


WINNING    FAME    IN    A    NEW    FIELD  II5 

promptu  question  with  others  equally  as  pat,  and 
though  Buffalo  Bill  remained  on  the  stage  for  at 
least  fifteen  minutes,  not  a  word  of  the  part  that  had 
been  assigned  to  him  was  spoken,  for  the  entire  con- 
versation was  impromptu. 

Financially  the  "Scouts  of  the  Plains"  was  a  suc- 
cess, and  Buffalo  Bill  felt  perfectly  satisfied  with  his 
debut  as  an  actor.  From  Chicago  the  troupe  went 
to  St.  Louis,  thence  to  Cincinnati,  and  then  all  over 
the  East  and  West,  meeting  with  wonderful  success 
in  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  novel  innovation  of 
introducing  Indians,  scouts  and  cowboys  on  the 
stage  in  mimic  pioneer  life  caught  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  people  everywhere,  and  the  troupe  was  flooded 
with  offers  of  engagements  from  the  managers  of  the 
leading  theaters  all  over  the  country.  At  the  end 
of  the  season  Buffalo  Bill  found  his  share  of  the 
profits  netted  him  $6,000. 

The  wonderful  popularity  of  these  performances 
proved  beyond  question  that  the  people  of  this  country 
wanted  to  see  American  pioneer  life  truthfully  pre- 
sented on  the  stage,  and  the  "Scouts  of  the  Plains" 
and  similar  plays  presented  to  American  audiences 
by  Buffalo  Bill  and  his  troupe  paved  the  way  for  the 
production  of  the  magnificent  Wild  West  exhibitions 
of  after  years. 

In  1874  Buffalo  Bill  again  went  to  the  plains. 
After  scouting  until  fall  he  returned  to  New  York  and 
organized  another  troupe.     The  summer  of  1875   h^ 


Il6  BUFFALO    BILL 

spent  with  his  family  in  Rochester,  New  York. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  re-organized  his  troupe, 
and  did  a  very  successful  business.  While  playing 
at  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  April  1876,  he  received  a 
telegram  announcing  the  serious  illness  of  his  little 
boy,  an  only  son,  and  arrived  home  in  time  to  have 
the  little  one  die  in  his  arms. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

ONCE  MORE  A   SCOUT. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  our  war  with  the  Sioux  broke 
out,  and  Buffalo  Bill  was  sent  for  by  General  Crook, 
to  accompany  his  command  as  guide  and  chief  of 
scouts. 

At  Cheyenne  he  came  upon  the  5th  cavalry  regi- 
ment, with  whom  he  nad  done  good  service  as  guide 
and  scout.  The  regiment  was  under  command  of 
General  Carr,  and  was  on  its  way  back  from  Arizona 
to  join  General  Crook.  General  Carr  at  once  ap- 
pointed Buffalo  Bill  his  guide  and  chief  of  scouts,  and 
the  next  morning  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Fort 
Laramie. 

On  their  arrival  at  Fort  Laramie  they  found  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  there,  accompanied  by  General  Frye 
and  General  Forsyth,  en  ronte  to  Red  Cloud  agency. 
Many  depredations  had  been  recently  committed  on 


ONCE    MORE    A    SCOUT  117 

the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  and  on  the  Black  Hills 
road  in  the  vicinity,  the  Fifth  Cavalry  was  sent  out 
to  scout  the  country  between  the  Indian  agencies  and 
the  hills.  By  continued  scouting,  with  occasional 
small  engagements,  it  was  supposed  the  Indians  were 
soon  driven  from  the  vicinity,  and,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Wesley  Merritt,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  relieve  General  Carr,  the  regiment  had 
started  to  return  to  Fort  Laramie,  when  a  scout 
arrived  and  reported  the  massacre  of  General  Custer 
and  his  band  of  heroes  on  the  Little  Big  Horn,  on 
June  25th,  1876.  The  scout  also  brought  orders  for 
General  Merritt  to  proceed  at  once  to  Fort  Fetter- 
man  and  join  General  Crook  in  the  Big  Horn  country. 

The  massacre  of  General  Custer  and  his  little  band 
of  brave  men  by  Sitting  Bull  and  his  Sioux,  is  a 
matter  of  too  recent  history  to  require  repeating 
here.  The  blame  and  praise  of  that  terrible  slaughter 
has  been  given  and  charged  to  one  officer  and  then 
another.  Just  where  the  blame  belongs,  probably 
none  will  ever  know.  The  only  certainty  about  it 
is,  "Some  one  had  blundered." 

On  the  evening  of  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  Gen- 
eral Custer's  massacre,  General  Merritt  received  in- 
formation through  a  scout  that  eight  hundred  Chey- 
enne warriors  had  that  day  left  Red  Cloud  agency  to 
join  Sitting  Bull's  hostile  forces  in  the  Big  Horn 
country.  He  immediately  selected  five  hundred 
men  and  horses  and  began  a  forced  march    for  War- 


Il8  BUFFALO    BILL 

Bonnett  creek,  with  the  intention  of  reaching  the 
main  Indian  trail  running  to  the  north  across  the  creek 
before  the  Cheyennes  could  get  there.  Buffalo  Bill, 
in  his  autobiography,  thus  describes  what  followed: 
"We  arrived  there  the  next  night,  and  at  daybreak 
the  following  morning,  July  17th,  1876,  I  went  out  on 
a  scout,  and  found  that  the  Indians  had  not  yet 
crossed  the  creek.  On  my  way  back  to  the  com- 
mand I  discovered  a  large  party  of  Indians,  which 
proved  to  be  the  Cheyennes,  coming  up  from  the 
south,  and  I  hurried  to  the  camp  with  this  important 
information. 

"The  cavalry  men  quietly  mounted  their  horses, 
and  were  ordered  to  remain  out  of  sight,  while  Gen- 
eral Merritt,  accompanied  by  two  or  three  aids  and 
myself,  went  out  on  a  little  tour  of  observation  to  a 
jieighboring  hill,  from  the  summit  of  which  we  saw 
Jiat  the  Indians  were  approaching  almost  directly 
towards  us.  Presently  fifteen  or  twenty  of  them 
dashed  off  to  the  west  in  the  direction  from  which 
we  had  come  the  night  before;  and  upon  closer  ob- 
servation with  our  field  glasses,  we  discovered  two 
mounted  soldiers,  evidently  carrying  dispatches  for 
us,  pushing  forward  on  our  trail. 

"The  Indians  were  evidently  endeavoring  to  inter- 
cept these  two  men,  and  General  Merritt  feared  that 
they  would  accomplish  their  object.  He  did  not 
think  it  advisable  to  send  out  any  soldiers  to  the 
assistance  of  the  couriers,  for  fear  they    would    show 


I 


ONCE    MORE    A    SCOUT  IIQ 

to  the  Indians  that  there  were  troops  in  the  vicinity 
who  were  v/aiting  for  them.  I  finally  suggested  that 
the  best  plan  was  to  wait  until  the  couriers  came 
closer  to  the  command  and  then  just  as  the  Indians 
were  about  to  charge,  to  let  me  take  the  scouts  and 
cut  them  off  from  the  main  body  of  the  Cbeyennes, 
who  were  coming  over  the  divide. 

"'All  right,  Cody,'  said  the  General,  *if  you  can 
do  that,  go  ahead.' 

"I  rushed  back  to  the  command,  jumped  on  my 
horse,  picked  out  fifteen  men,  and  returned  with 
them  to  the  point  of  observation.  I  told  General 
Merritt  to  give  us  the  word  to  start  out  at  the  proper 
time,  and  presently  he  sang  out: 

"*Go  in  now,  Cody,  and  be  quick  about  it.  They 
are  going  to  charge  on  the  couriers.' 

"The  two  messengers  were  not  over  four  hundred 
yards  from  us,  and  the  Indians  were  only  about  two 
hundred  yards  behind  them.  We  instantly  dashed 
over  the  bluffs,  and  advanced  on  a  gallop  towards  the 
Indians.  A  running  fight  lasted  several  minutes 
during  which  we  drove  the  enemy  some  little  distance 
and  killed  three  of  their  number.  The  rest  of  the::, 
rode  off  towards  the  main  body,  which  had  comeintc 
plain  sight,  and  halted,  upon  seeing  the  skirmish  that 
was  going  on.  We  were  about  half  a  mile  from  Gen- 
eral Merritt,  and  the  Indians  whom  we  were  chasing 
suddenly  turned  upon  us,  and  another  lively  skirmish 
took  place.   One  of  the  Indians,  who  was  handsomely 


I20  BUFFALO    BILL 

decorated  with  all  the  ornaments  usually  worn  by  i 
war  chief  when  enp^nged  in  a  fight,  sang  out  to  me  in 
his  own  tongue:  'I  know  you,  Pa  he-haska;  if  you 
want  to  fight,  come  ahead  ar.d  fight  me.' 

"The  chief  was  riding  his  horse  back  and  forth  in 
front  of  his  men,  as  if  to  banter  me,  and  I  concluded 
to  accept  his  challenge.  I  galloped  towards  him  for 
fifty  yards  and  he  advanced  towards  me  about  the 
same  distance,  both  of  us  riding  at  full  speed,  and  then, 
when  we  were  about  thirty  yards  apart,  I  raised  my 
rifle  and  fired;  his  horse  fell  to  the  ground,  having 
been  killed  by  my  bullet.  Almost  at  the  same  instant 
my  own  horse  went  down,  he  having  stepped  into  a 
gopher  hole.  The  fall  did  not  hurt  me  much,  and  I 
instantly  sprang  to  my  feet.  The  Indian  had  also 
recovered  himself,  and  we  were  both  on  foot,  and 
not  more  than  twenty  paces  apart.  We  fired  at  each 
other  simultaneously.  My  usual  luck  did  not  desert 
me  on  this  occasion,  for  his  bullet  missed  me,  v/hile 
mine  struck  him  in  the  breast.  He  reeled  and  fell, 
but  before  he  had  fairly  touched  the  ground  I  was 
upon  him,  knife  in  hand,  and  had  driven  the  keen 
edged  weapon  to  its  hilt  in  his  heart.  Jerking  his 
war-bonnet  off,  I  scientifically  scalped  him  in  about 
five  seconds. 

"The  whole  affair  from  beginning  to  end  occupied 
but  little  time,  and  the  Indians,  seeing  that  I  was 
some  little  distance  from  my  company,  now  came 
charging  down  upon  me  from  a  hill,  in  hopes  of  cut- 


ONCE    MORE    A    SCOUT  121 

ting  me  off.  General  Merritt  had  witnessed  the  duel, 
and  realizing  the  danger  I  was  in,  ordered  Colonel 
Mason  with  Company  K  to  hurry  to  my  rescue.  The 
order  came  none  too  soon,  for  had  it  been  given  one 
minute  later  I  would  have  had  not  less  than  two 
hundred  Indians  upon  me.  As  the  soldiers  came  up 
I  swung  the  Indian  chieftain's  top-knot  and  bonnet 
in  the  air,  and  shouted: 

*'*'''  The  first  scalp  JorCnster,'' 

"General  Merritt  seeing  that  he  could  not  now 
ambush  the  Indians,  ordered  the  whole  regiment  to 
charge  upon  them.  They  made  a  stubborn  resistance 
lor  a  little  while,  but  it  was  of  no  use  for  any  eight 
hundred,  or  even  sixteen  hundred  Indians  to  try  and 
check  a  charge  of  the  gallant  old  Fifth  Cavalry,  and 
they  soon  came  to  that  conclusion  and  began  a  run- 
ning retreat  towards  Red  Cloud  agency." 

After  the  campaign  against  the  Indians  was  ended 
Buffalo  Bill  returned  East  and  played  in  a  new  drama 
written  to  illustrate  scenes  in  the  late  Sioux  war. 
After  visiting  the  principal  Eastern  cities,  the  troupe 
went  to  California,  and  played  to  crowded  houses. 

Returning  to  Nebraska,  he  and  Major  North  bought 
a  cattle  ranch.  Leaving  the  Major  to  look  after  the 
cattle,  Buffalo  Bill  went  East,  and  in  1877  played  in 
a  new  drama  entitled  "May  Cody;  or.  Lost  and  Won." 
This  was  the  most  successful  play  he  had  ever  appeared 
in. 

The    season   of    1878-9   was   very    successful,  the 
9 


122  BUFFALO    BILL 

troupe  being  larger  than  any  previous  one,  and  real 
Indians,  obtained  from  the  Indian  Territory,  were 
introduced  on  the  stage.  The  play  was  called  the 
"Knights  of  the  Plains,"  and  its  immense  success 
probably  had  much  to  do  with  its  being  soon  after 
followed  up  by  the  now  world  famous  exhibition  of 
mimic  life  on  the  plains,  "Buffalo  Bill's  Wild  West." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

TRIUMPHANT  WILD  WEST. 

Buffalo  Bill  had  now  become  almost  as  famous 
throughout  the  United  States  as  a  showman  as  he 
had  before  been  renowned  as  a  guide,  scout,  pony- 
express  rider,  buffalo  hunter  and  Indian  fighter. 

He  had  accumulated  considerable  money  and  a 
vast  amount  of  useful  experience,  both  of  which  he 
determined  to  make  use  of  in  presenting  his  country- 
men with  a  magnificent  spectacle  of  realistic  wild  life 
on  the  plains,  such  as  would  not  only  afford  them  an 
intensely  absorbing  entertainment,  but  at  the  same 
time  serve  to  instruct  them  in  the  pioneer  history  of 
their  country. 

His  repeated  successful  tours  through  the  country, 
giving  the  people  a  mimic  presentation  of  pioneer 
life  on  the  plains,  enabled  him  to  discover  what  the 
people  really  wanted  in  the  way  of  an  exhibition  of 
American  frontier  life. 


I 


TRIUMPHANT    WILD    WEST  1 23 

He  learned  that  it  was  not  fine  acting,  in  the 
accepted  meaning  of  the  phrase,  that  was  .most 
popular  with  the  people.  It  was  the  appearance  on 
the  stage  of  real  Indians,  real  guides,  real  scouts, 
real  cowboys,  real  buffaloes,  real  bucking  horses,  and 
last,  but  not  least,  real  Buffalo  Bill,  who  had  already 
become  in  the  minds  of  the  people  the  ideal  Ameri- 
can plainsman. 

Possessed  of  this  knowledge,  Buffalo  Bill  deter- 
mined to  give  the  people  in  entirety  what  they  had 
so  highly  appreciated  in  occasional  disjointed  parts. 
With  this  purpose  in  view  he  proceeded  to  gather 
together  from  various  portions  of  the  country,  the 
living  heroes  of  American  pioneer  life,  and  have  them 
enact  in  a  grand  amphitheater  the  very  scenes  through 
which  they  had  passed  in  conquering  the  Western 
wilderness. 

Besides  collecting  together  these  actual  experienced 
guides,  scouts  and  rough  riders  of  the  plains,  he  sent 
agents  to  the  far  West  to  gather  Indians,  Mexicans, 
cowboys,  buffaloes,  elk,  mountain  sheep,  bucking 
horses,  wild  cattle,  emigrant  wagons,  overland  coach, 
etc.,  with  which  to  produce  his  colossal  entertain- 
ment. 

And  having  gotten  his  stupendous  aggregation 
together  Buffalo  Bill  was  soon  in  possession  of  more 
experience  and  less  money  than  when  he  started  on  a 
:our  through  the  States  with  his  remarkable  exhibi- 
ion.     In  fact  he  found  that  he    had   an  elephant  on 


124  BUFFALO    BILL 

his  hands,  for  his  expenses  were  exceeding  his  income 
by  a  considerable  amount. 

But  Buffalo  Bill  was  not  the  man  to  give  up  a 
cherished  ambition  because  he  was  losing  money  in 
attaining  it  He  had  faith  in  the  ultimate  success  of 
the  enterprise,  and  so  pushed  ahead,  in  spite  of 
threatening  disaster. 

His  first  exhibition  of  Wild  West  was  given  May 
17th,  1883,  at  the  Fair-grounds  in  Omaha,  where  it 
played  to  vast  crowds  during  its  entire  engagement. 
It  played  its  next  engagement  at  Springfield,  111., 
and  thence  went  East  and  played  in  all  the  large 
cities  of  the  seaboard. 

At  the  end  of  the  season  Buffalo  Bill  found  that 
he  had  grown  no  richer  in  the  matter  of  money,  but 
regarded  the  experience  he  had  gained  as  a  fair  re- 
muneration for  his  time  and  trouble. 

The  vast  crowds  that  attended  his  exhibitions  in 
all  parts  of  the  country  convinced  him  that  the  en- 
terprise could  be  made  a  financial  success,  if  a  part- 
ner could  be  secured  capable  of  attending  to  the  man- 
agement and  business  details. 

Such  a  partner  he  found  in  the  well-known  and 
successful  comedian,  Nate  Salsbury,  and  under  the 
new  management  and  partnership  of  Cody  &  Salsbury, 
the  company  was  immediately  reorganized,  on  a 
much  grander  scale  than  before.  Nearly  a  hundred 
Indians,  from  several  tribes,  were  engaged,  among 
the  number  being  the  world  famous  chief.  Sitting  Bull, 


TRIUMPHANT    WILDWEST  125 

and  several  other  Sioux  that  had  distinguished  them- 
selves in  the  Custer  massacre.  Besides  these  the  new 
management  secured  the  services  of  many  noted 
plainsmen,  such  as  Buck  Taylor,  the  great  rider, 
lasso  thrower  and  King  of  the  Cowboys,  Utah  Frank, 
John  Nelson  and  a  score  of  other  well-known  charac- 
ters. 

Thus  reorganized  and  enlarged  the  Wild  West 
aggregation  gave  daily  exhibitions  during  the  summer 
of  1884  to  enormous  crowds  in  all  the  large  cities  of 
the  country,  and  in  the  fall  started  for  New  Orleans 
to  spend  the  winter  exhibiting  at  the  Exposition 
Grounds.  At  Rodney  Landing,  Miss.,  the  boat  on 
which  the  Wild  West  Company  was  being  trans- 
ported, collided  with  another  boat,  and  sank  to  the 
bottom  of  the  Mississippi  River.  All  the  personal 
effects  of  the  company  were  lost,  including  wagons, 
camp  equipage,  arms,  ammunition,  donkeys,  buffaloes 
and  one  elk.     The  loss  entailed  was   about  $20,000. 

Buffalo  Bill,  however,  opened  the  Wild  West  ex- 
hibition in  New  Orleans  on  the  date  for  which  it  had 
been  advertised,  with,  in  many  respects,  a  better 
aggregation  of  animals,  camp  equipage,  arms, 
wagons,  etc.,  than  the  company  possessed  at  the 
time  of  the  accident. 

In  eight  days  Buffalo  Bill  had  been  able  to  more 
than  supply  the  loss  occasioned  by  *he  sinking  of  the 
boat,  which  fact  illustrates  a  feature  of  the  man's 
character  that  has  helped  to  make  him  the  successful 


126  BUrFALO    BILL 

scout,  hunter,  Indian  fighter  and  business  man  he 
has  proven  himself  to  be. 

At  the  close  of  the  New  Orleans  en<::;agement  the 
losses  of  the  Wild  West  enterprise  fiji^ured  up  for  the 
winter  spent  in  the  Crescent  City  to  something  like 
$60,000. 

This  was  certainly  discouraging  enough  to  dis- 
hearten most  any  man  as  ordinarily  constituted.  Not 
so  with  Buffalo  Bill  and  his  plucky  partner,  for  the 
following  summer  they  opened  up  in  good  shape  at 
Staten  Island,  and  with  such  splendid  success  that 
their  losses  at  New  Orleans  were    speedily   retrieved. 

For  the  season  of  1886-87  they  leased  Madison 
Square  Garden,  New  York,  and  gave  their  exhibition 
there  for  the  first  time  in  a  covered  space.  Though 
the  seating  capacity  of  the  place  was  15,000  they 
played  to  crowded  houses  twice  a  day  during  the 
entire  winter. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

WILD  WEST  IN  ENGLAND. 

The  unprecedented  success  of  the  Wild  West  ex- 
hibition in  America,  excited  in  the  breast  of  Buffalo 
Bill  an  ambition  to  win  the  applause  and  money  of 
the  other  nations  of  the  world  as  well. 

But  the  enormous  expense  which  he  and  his  ex- 
perienced business  partner    knew    full    well    was  in- 


I 


^^tMma-tct-  fiyp. 


WILD    WEST    IN   ENGLAND  127 

volved  in  such  an  ambitious  undertaking,  caused  them 
for  a  while  to  hesitate  and  carefully  weigh  the  possi- 
ble chances  of  immense  success  or  overwhelming 
failure. 

While  so  hesitating,  halting  as  it  were  between  two 
opinions,  an  opportunity  was  presented  which  prom- 
ised to  largely  increase  their  chances  of  success 

Several  prominent  gentlemen  of  the  United  States 
conceived  the  idea  of  holding  an  American  exhibition 
m  the  heart  of  London,  and  to  this  end  a  company 
was  organized  that  pushed  the  project  to  a  successful 
issue,  aided  as  they  were  by  several  prominent 
residents  of  the  English  capital.  '  When  the  enter- 
prise had  progressed  so  far  as  to  give  flattering 
promise  of  an  opening  at  the  time  fixed  upon,  a  prop- 
osition was  made  Buffalo  Bill  and  his  partner,  by  the 
president  and  director  of  the  company,  to  take  their 
Wild  West  show  to  London  and  play  the  season  of 
six  months  as  an  adjunct  of  the  American  Exhibition, 
the  proposition  being  a  percentage  of  the  receipts. 

The  offer  was  promptly  accepted,  and  immediate 
preparations  were  made  for  enlarging  the  organization 
preliminary  to  its  departure  for  England. 

The  services  of  one  hundred  Indians  were  secured, 
ncluding  representative  types  of  the  Sioux,  Cheyenne, 
Kiowa,  Pawnee  and  Ogalalla  tribes,  none  of  whom  had 
(;ver  been  off  their  reservations  before.  Among  the 
prominent  chiefs  thus  engaged  was  Red  Shirt,  a  re- 
c  oubtable  warrior  and  second  only  in  influence  to 
Sitting  Bull  himseHiu 


TaS  BUFFALO    BILL 

Arrangements  having  at  length  been  completed, 
the  Wild  West  aggregation  of  more  than  two  hundred 
men  and  animals,  consisting  of  Indians,  cowboys, 
(including  the  celebrated  cowboy  band),  Mexican 
riders,  celebrated  rifle  shots,  buffaloes,  Texas  steers, 
burros,  bronchos,  racing  horses,  elk,  bears,  and  an 
immense  amount  of  camp  paraphernalia,  such  as 
tents,  wagons,  stage  coach,  etc.,  on  March  31,  1887, 
set  sail  from  the  city  of  New  York  for  England. 
The  piers  were  crowded  with  thousands  of  enthusias- 
tic friends  of  the  company  to  wave  their  adieux  and 
wish  the  Wild  West  a  pleasant  voyage,  a  successful 
season,  and  a  safe  return. 

As  the  ship  drew  away  from  the  pier,  cheer  after 
cheer  went  up  from  the  crowd  on  shore,  while  the 
cowboy  band  played  "The  Girl  I  left  behind  me,"  in 
a  manner  that  suggested  more  reality  than  empty 
sentiment  in  the  familar  air. 

Before  starting  on  the  trip  several  of  the  Indians 
expressed  grave  fears  that  if  they  trusted  themselves 
upon  the  mighty  ocean  death  would  soon  over- 
take them,  and  it  required  much  persuasion  to  induce 
them  to  go  on  board. 

Red  Shirt  explained  that  these  fears  were  caused 
by  a  superstitious  belief  that  if  a  red  man  attempted 
to  cross  the  ocean  he  would  be  seized  of  a  malady 
that  would  first  prostrate  the  victim  and  then  slowly 
consume  his  flesh,  until  at  length  the  very  skin  itself 
would  drop  from  his  bones,  leaving  nothing  but   the 


WILD    WEST    IN    ENGLAND  129 

skeleton,  and  this  even  would  never  find  burial.  This 
weird  belief  was  repeated  by  the  chiefs  of  several 
tribes  to  the  Indians  who  had  joined  the  Wild  West, 
so  there  was  little  reason  for  wonder  that  the  poor 
children  of  the  forest  should  hesitate  to  submit  them- 
selves to  such  an  experiment.  On  the  day  following 
the  departure  from  New  York  the  Indians  began  to 
grow  weary,  and  becoming  sea-sick  they  were  both 
treacherous  and  rebellious.  Their  fears  were  greatly 
intensified  as  even  Red  Shirt,  the  bravest  of  his 
people,  looked  anxiously  toward  the  hereafter,  and 
began  to  feel  his  flesh  to  see  if  it  was  really  dimin- 
ishing. The  hopelessness  stamped  upon  the  faces  of 
the  Indians  was  pitiful  to  behold,  and  but  for  the  en- 
deavors of  Buffalo  Bill  to  cheer  them  up  and  relieve 
their  forebodings  there  is  no  knowing  what  might 
have  happened.  But  for  two  days  the  whole  company, 
Indians,  cowboys  and  all,  were  too  indisposed  for  any 
active  service  except  feeding  the  fishes. 

On  the  third  day  out,  however,  all  began  to  feel 
well  again,  and  Buffalo  Bill  called  the  Indians  to- 
gether in  the  main  saloon  and  gave  them  a  Sunday 
talk. 

When  the  ship  had  been  out  on  the  ocean  seven 
days  a  severe  storm  came  up,  and  raged  so  fiercely 
that  the  vessel  was  compelled  to  lay  too.  During  its 
continuance  the  stock  suffered  greatly;  but  such  good 
care  was  given  the  animals  that  only  one  horse  died 
on  the  trip. 


13©  BUFFALO    BILL 

At  last  the  staunch  steamship,  "City  of  Nebraska," 
with  the  Wild  West  Company  aboard,  anchored  off 
Gravesend,  and  soon  a  tug  flying  the  stars  and  stripes 
was  seen  coming  out  to  meet  the  incoming  ship.  A 
tumultuous  waving  of  handkerchiefs  on  board  the 
approaching  tug,  evoked  ringing  shouts  and  cheers 
from  the  Wild  West  Company.  Then  a  band  on 
the  nearing  tug  struck  up  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner," 
and  the  Wild  West  cowboy  band  on  board  of  the 
"Nebraska"  responded  with  "Yankee  Doodle." 

The  party  on  the  tug  proved  to  be  the  director  of 
the  American  Exhibition,  with  Ronald  Cower  head- 
ing a  distinguished  committee,  accompanied  by  Major 
John  M.  Burke,  Buffalo  Bill's  advance  manager,  and 
representatives  of  the  leading  London  journals. 

The  magnificent  reception  given  Buffalo  Bill  and 
his  Wild  West  Company  by  the  people  and  press  of 
London,  has  already  been  touched  upon  in  our  open- 
ing chapter,  but  no  adequate  conception  of  the  cordial, 
enthusiastic,  whole-hearted  welcome  given  our  fellow 
countrymen  by  the  English  people,  can  be  obtained 
therefrom. 

The  English  papers  were  filled  from  day  to  day 
with  eulogistic  accounts  of  the  Wild  West  aggrega- 
tion, and  the  overwhelming  success  of  the  enterprise 
in  England  was  predicted  on  every  hand. 

T\i^  London  Illustrated  News  of  April  i6th  printed 
a  two  page  illustration  and  four  columns  of  descriptive 
matter  of  the  Wild  West  show,  -from  which  latter 
the  following  is  an. .extract* 


WILD    WEST    IN    ENGLAND  I3I 

"It  is  certainly  a  novel  idea  for  one  nation  to  give 
an  exhibition  devoted  exclusively  to  its  own  frontier 
history,  or  the  story  enacted  by  genuine  characters 
of  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  its  settlement,  upon 
the  soil  of  another  country  3,000  miles  away.  Yet 
this  is  exactly  what  the  Americans  will  do  this  year 
in  London,  and  it  is  an  idea  worthy  of  that  thorough- 
going and  enterprising  people.  We  frankly  and  gladly 
allow  that  there  is  a  natural  and  sentimental  view  of 
the  design  which  will  go  far  to  obtain  for  it  a  hearty 
welcome  in  England.  The  progress  of  the  United 
States,  now  the  largest  community  of  the  English 
race  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  though  not  in  political 
union  with  Great  Britain,  yet  intimately  connected 
with  us  by  social  sympathies;  by  a  common  language 
of  literature;  by  ancestral  traditions  and  many  cen- 
turies of  common  history;  by  much  remaining  simil- 
arity of  civil  institutions,  laws,  morals,  and  manners; 
by  the  same  forms  of  religions;  by  the  same  attach- 
ments to  the  principles  of  order  and  freedom,  and  by 
the  mutual  interchange  of  benefits  in  a  vast  commerce, 
and  in  the  materials  and  sustenance  of  their  staple 
industries,  is  a  proper  subject  of  congratulation;  for 
the  popular  mind  in  the  United  Kingdom  does  not 
regard,  and  will  never  be  taught  to  regard,  what  are 
styled  'imperial'  interests — those  of  mere  political 
dominion — as  equally  valuable  with  the  habits  and 
ideas  and  domestic  life  of  the  aggregate  of  human 
families  belonging  to   our    own    race.      The   greater 


132  BUFFALO    BILL 

numerical  proportion  of  these,  already  exceeding 
sixty  millions,  are  inhabitants  of  the  great  American 
Republic,  while  the  English-speaking  subjects  of 
Queen  Victoria  number  a  little  above  forty-five 
millions,  including  those  in  Canada  and  Australasia 
and  scattered  among  the  colonial  dependencies  of 
this  realm.  It  Vi^ould  be  unnatural  to  deny  ourselves 
the  indulgence  of  a  just  gratification  in  seeing  what 
men  of  our  own  blood,  men  of  our  own  mind  and  dis- 
position in  all  essential  respects,  though  tempered 
and  sharpened  by  more  stimulating  conditions,  with 
some  wider  opportunities  for  exertion,  have  achieved 
in  raising  a  wonderful  fabiic  of  modern  civilization, 
and  bringing  it  to  the  highest  prosperity,  across  the 
whole  breadth  of  the  Western  Continent,  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  feel  sure  that  this 
sentiment  will  prevail  in  the  hearts  of  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  visitors  to  Buffalo  Bill's  American 
camp,  about  to  be  opened  at  the  west  end  of  London; 
and  we  take  it  kindly  of  the  great  kindred  people  of 
the  United  States  that  they  now  send  such  a  magnifi- 
cent representation  to  the  motherland,  determined 
to  take  some  part  in  celebrating  the  jubilee  of  her 
majesty,  the  queen,  who  is  the  political  representative 
of  the  people  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland." 

So  pleased  was  Buffalo  Bill  with  the  magnificent 
reception  given  his  Wild  West- exhibition  in  London, 
that  he  at  once  sent  a  cablegram  across  the  ocean  to 
General  Sherman,  informing  his  old    army    friend  of 


WILD    WEST    IN    ENGLAND  133 

the  glorious  success  he  was  meeting  with  in  England. 
General  Sherman  responded  as  follows: 

"Fifth  Avenue  Hotel, 

"New  York,  May  8,  1887. 
"Dear  Cody: — I  was  much  pleased  to  receive  your 
dispatch  of  May  5th  announcing  the  opening  of  the 
Wild  West  in  old  London,  and  that  your  first  per- 
formance was  graced  by  the  presence  of  ihe  Prince 
and  Princess  of  Wales.  I  had  penned  a  short  answer 
to  go  by  cable,  buc  it  fell  so  far  short  of  my  thoughts 
that  I  tore  it  up  and  preferred  the  old-fashioned 
letter,  which  I  am  sure  you  can  afford  to  await.  After 
your  departure  in  the  'State  of  Nebraska'  I  was  impa- 
tient until  the  cable  announced  your  safe  arrival  in 
the  Thames,  without  the  loss ,  of  a  man  or  animal 
during  the  voyage.  Since  that  time  our  papers  have 
kept  us  well  'posted,*  and  I  assure  you  that  no  one 
of  your  host  of  friends  on  this  side  of  the  water  was 
more  pleased  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  and  of  your 
first  exhibition- than  myself.  I  had,  in  1872,  the 
honor  and  great  pleasure  of  meeting  the  Prince  of 
Wales  and  the  Princess  Alexandra  on  board  our 
fleet  in  Southampton  Bay,  and  was  struck  by  the 
manly,  frank  character  of  the  prince,  and  the  extreme 
beauty  and  grace  of  the  princess.  The  simple  fact 
that  they  honored  your  opening  exhibition  assures 
us  all  that  the  English  people  will  not  construe  your 
party  as  a  show,  but  a  palpable  illustration  of  the 
men  and  qualities  which   have    enabled    the    United 


134  BUFFALO    BILL 

States  to  subdue  the  2,000  miles  of  our  wild  West 
continent,  and  make  it  the  home  of  civilization.  You 
and  I  remember  the  time  when  we  needed  a  strong 
military  escort  to  go  from  Fort  Riley  in  Kansas  to 
Fort  Kearney  on  the  Platte;  when  emigrants  to  Col- 
orado went  armed  and  organized  as  soldiers,  where 
now  the  old  and  young,  rich  and  poor,  sweep  across 
the  plains  in  palace  cars  with  as  much  comfort  as  on 
a  ride  from  London  to  Edinburgh.  Your  exhibition 
better  illustrates  the  method  by  which  this  was  accom- 
plished than  a  thousand  volumes  of  printed  matter. 
The  English  people  always  have,  and  I  hope  always 
will  love  pluck  and  endurance.  You  have  exhibited 
both,  and  in  nothing  more  than  your  present  venture, 
and  I  assure  you  that  you  have  my  best  wishes  for 
success  in  your  undertaking. 

"Sincerely  your  friend, 

"W.  T.  Sherman." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A  WINTER  IN    ENGLAND. 

From  London  the  Wild  West  proceeded  to  Bir- 
mingham, where  it  filled  a  brief  but  successful  engage- 
ment at  the  Aston  Lower  Grounds.  Then  it  moved 
on  to  Manchester,  whose  leading  citizens  had  held 
out  to  Buffalo  Bill  flattering  inducements  to  visit  that 
city  and  open  up  for  the  winter. 


A    WINTER    IN    ENGLAND  I35 

While  preparations  for  opening  the  Wild  West  ex- 
hibition at  Manchester  were  being  made,  Buffalo 
Bill  took  advantage  of  the  interval,  with  his  daughter 
Arta,  for  a  two  weeks  vacation  in  Italy.  When  the 
fact  is  considered  that  from  the  opening  day  of  the 
Wild  West  exhibition  in  London  to  the  close  of  the 
engagement  in  that  city  Buffalo  Bill  had  not  missed 
a  single  one  of  the  three  hundred  performances 
given,  notwithstanding  the  innumerable  social  courte- 
sies he  was  compelled  to  observe,  it  will  be  readily 
understood  that  a  short  vacation  was  necessary  prior 
to  his  entering  upon  his  winter  engagements. 

After  a  hurried  visit  to  the  ancient  Colosseum  of 
Rome,  with  a  view  to  inspecting  the  ruins  as  a  site  for 
a  possible  future  production  of  the  Wild  West  Exhi- 
bition therein,  and  a  hasty  tour  of  the  more  important 
cities  of  Italy,  he  returned  to  Manchester  and  helped 
prepare  for  opening  the  winter  season  there. 

To  accommodate  the  Wild  West  show  the  largest 
theater  ever  seen  in  the  world  was  erected  by  an 
enterprising  firm  of  Manchester  builders,  together 
with  a  commodious  building  attached  to  it  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  troupe,  whose  tents  and  tepees 
were  erected  under  its  shelter,  the  whole  of  the  struct- 
ure being  comfortably  heated  by  steam  and  illumi- 
nated by  the  electric  light. 

Of  the  magnificent  entertainment  given  in  this  vast 

theater  by  Buffalo    Bill    and    his    troupe,  a   graphic 

account  is  here  reproduced  from  the  columns  of    the 

Manchester  Sunday  Chronicle^' 
XO  -'^ 


136  BUFFALO    BILL 

"A  vast  amphitheater^  shaped  somewhat  Hke  a  horse- 
shoe magnet,  with  giant  proscenium  stretched  across 
its  poles;  an  enormous  stage,  constructed  without 
flooring,  the  scenery  and  set  pieces  of  which  are  let 
down  upon  the  bare  earth;  a  drama,  deahng  with  a 
period  of  five  hundred  years,  in  which  nearly  three 
hundred  men  and  women,  and  as  many  horses,  buffa- 
loes, and  other  four-footed  creatures  take  part,  per- 
formed in  great  measure  immediately  under  the  eyes 
of  the  spectators,  on  a  huge  plain  level  with  the  stage 
and  drifting  into  a  perspective  upon  it — such  is  a 
general  description  of  the  performance  which  was 
given  for  the  first  time  yesterday  afternoon  by  Colo- 
nel Cody  and  his  magnificent  troupe.  The  theater, 
brilliantly  lighted  and  well  warmed  throughout,  is 
like  nothing  else  ever  constructed  in  this  country. 
The  seats,  accommodating  nearly  ten  thousand  per- 
sons, are  ranged  in  tiers,  from  the  pew-like  private 
boxes  in  front  to  a  height  of  forty  feet  or  so;  and 
the  distance  from  the  extreme  end  of  the  audito- 
rium to  the  back  of  the  stage  is  so  great  that 
a  horseman  galloping  across  the  whole  area  dimin- 
ishs  by  natural  perspective  until  the  spectator  is 
fairly  cheated  into  the  idea  that  the  journey  is  to  be 
prolonged  until  the  rider  vanishes  in  the  pictured 
horizon.  The  illusion,  indeed,  is  so  well  managed  and 
complete,  the  boundless  plains  and  swelling  prairies 
are  so  vividly  counterfeited,  that  it  is  difficult  to  resist 
the  belief  that  we  are  really  gazing  over  an  immen||fev 


'^'^' 


A    WINTER    IN    ENGLAND  1 37 

expanse  of  country  from  some  hillside  in  the  far  West. 
The  pictures,  from  the  brush  of  the  talented  Matt. 
Morgan,  are  singularly  beautiful  in  themselves,  and 
it  only  needs  the  constantly  varying  groups  of  living 
men  and  animals  in  front  of  them  to  complete  the 
charm. 

"In  arranging  the  latest  development  of  their  exhi- 
bition, Messrs.  Cody  and  Salsbury  have  undertaken 
no  trifling  task.  Besides  the  display  of  horsemanship 
and  feats  of  shooting  with  which  the  notices  of  their 
doings  in  London  have  familiarized  the  public,  they 
have  determined  to  present  the  story  of  the  develop- 
ment of  the  American  Continent  from  primeval  times 
until  the  present  day.  It  is  a  play  without  a  plot  and 
without  dialogue,  unless  the  clever  and  humorous 
lecture  of  Mr.  Frank  Richmond,  the  'orator'  of  the 
establishment,  can  be  called  such.  This  gentleman 
occupies  a  lofty  pulpit  to  the  left  of  the  proscenium, 
and  it  says  much  for  the  acoustic  properties  of  the 
gigantic  building  that  his  voice  can  be  heard  so  dis- 
tinctly as  it  is.  The  drama,  however,  has  no  lack  of 
coherence,  and  the  interest  of  the  spectators  i$  un- 
flaggingly  sustained  throughout  the  long  succession 
of  exciting  scenes  from  the  introduction  to  the  close. 

"By  the  plan  adopted  the  entertainment  is  divided 
into  "episodes,"  of  which  the  first,  after  the  prelimi- 
nary of  a  general  personal  introduction  of  the  troupe, 
is  the  Forest  Primeval,  in  which 

The  murmuring  pines  and  the  hemlocks 
>  Bearded  with  moss,  and  in  garments  green, 


138  BUFFALO    BILL 

Indistinct  in  the  twilight, 
Stand  like  Druids  of  old. 

It  is  midnight,  and  wild  animals  lie  scattered  about 
in  their  lairs.  With  the  opening  dawn  we  make  the 
acquaintance  of  the  Red  Indian  as  he  used  to  be 
before  the  white  man  crowded  him  out  of  his  posses- 
sions. At  sunrise  —a  beautiful  stage-managed  effect 
— we  have  the  meeting  of  the  Indian  Tribes  who  ex- 
ecute a  friendly  dance  to  a  quaint  barbaric  measure. 
Then  comes  a  courier  with  notice  of  the  approach  of 
a  hostile  tribe  intent  upon  massacre  and  the  collection 
of  scalps.  The  attack  is  delivered  with  terrific  vigor, 
and  the  battle  that  ensues  is  an  unequaled  picture  of 
savage  warfare. 

"The  Second  Episode  deals  with  the  landing  of  the 
pligrim  fathers  from  the  Mayflower  on  Plymouth  Rock, 
with  which  the  era  of  civilization  is  held  to  com- 
mence. Here  again,  the  scenery  is  remarkably  fine, 
and  the  characters  in  the  tableaux  are  characteristic- 
ally dressed  in  the  short  capes,  steeple-crowned  hats, 
and  sad  colored  Puritan  raiment  of  religious  England 
in  their  day.  From  this,  amidst  appropriate  music 
from  Mr.  Sweeny's  cowboy  band,  the  scene  changes 
to  Episode  No.  3.  the  rescue  from  death  of  that 
heroic  bearer  of  an  honored  name,  John  Smith,  by  that 
beauteous  Indian  princess,  Pocahontas.  Now  ensues 
a  most  interesting  dehneation  of  Indian  manners  and 
customs,  from  the  wedding  to  the  war  dance,  by  the 
whole  of  the  Indian  forces,  under  the  command  of 
Red  Shirt  himself. 


I 


A    WINTER    IN    ENGLAND  I39 

"With  the  Fourth  Episode  we  reach  more  stirring 
scenes.  The  picture,  composed  of  innumerable  front 
sets  and  a  most  lovely  background,  by  Matt.  Morgan, 
represents  the  prairie,  with  a  drinking  pool,  or  "lick," 
in  the  foreground,  to  which  the  wild  buffaloes  come 
to  slake  their  thirst.  In  pursuit  of  the  great  game 
comes  Buffalo  Bill  himself,  on  his  famous  horse,  Old 
Charlie,  who  has  covered  onp  hundred  miles  in  less 
than  ten  hours,  conducting  an  emigrant  train  of  white 
folks,  with  wagons,  horsemen,  women,  and  children, 
and  all  the  accessories  of  a  march  across  the  wilder- 
ness. In  the  gathering  twilight  they  camp  around 
the  pool,  the  fires  are  lit,  and  a  clever  performance 
of  the  "Virginia  horseback  reel"  takes  place.  Subse- 
quently, with  the  gathering  darkness,  the  camp  sinks 
mto  slumber,  and  for  awhile  all  is  still.  Then  comes 
a  piece  of  stage  managing,  which  more  nearly  ap- 
proaches the  terrible  than  anything  ever  yet  attempted 
in  this  country.  A  red  streak  upon  the  horizon  gives 
warning  that  some  unwonted  danger  is  approaching 
the  sleeping  folks;  the  glow  broadens  and  deepens, 
and  seems  to  creep  gradually  over  the  pictured  miles 
of  open  country,  until  the  slumbering  people  are 
roused  with  the  appalling  intelligence  that  the  prairie 
is  on  fire.  The  conflagration  approaches  nearer  and 
nearer,  until  the  whole  landscape  appears  one  lurid 
mass  of  incandescence,  and  the  roaring  flames  leap 
down  upon  the  foreground  with  wild  fury,  threatening 
all  concerned  with  a  horrible  death.     The    men    en- 


140  BUFFALO    BILL 

deavor  to  stamp  out  the  conflagration  with  their  rugs 
and  blankets,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  horror  there 
swoops  upon  them  a  maddened  rush  of  wild  animals, 
flying  from  the  fire,  and  a  'stampede'  ensues  in  all 
its  terrors.  This  scene,  which  reflects  the  highest 
credit  upon  the  stage  management,  is  one  of  the 
grandest  ever  placed  before  the  public,  and  fairly 
bafiles  description. 

"Next  ensues  some  cowboy  and  Mexican  vaquero 
business  with  bucking  horses,  throwing  the  lasso,  in 
which  that  handsome  cavalier  and  King  of  the  Cow- 
boys, Buck  Taylor,  figures  conspicuously;  and  we 
get  some  extraordinary  feats  in  shooting  by  Johnny 
Baker,  the  Cowboy  Kid,  all  of  which  is  very  novel 
and  amusing.  And  so  we  arrive  at  the  Fifth  Episode, 
the  scene  of  which  is  a  cattle  ranch  in  the  Wild  West, 
with  a  real  log  hut  and  all  appropriate  surroundings. 
The  settlers,  after  an  interesting  representation  of 
camp  life  in  the  wilds,  are  attacked  by  Indians,  and 
a  fierce  battle  ensues,  which  is  waged  with  varying 
fortunes  until  it  ends  in  the  rescue  of  the  besieged 
party  by  a  band  of  whites,  and  the  flight  of  the  Red- 
skins. An  interlude  is  occupied  by  some  fancy  rifle 
shooting  by  Miss  Lillian  Smith,  "the  California  girl," 
and  then  we  come  to  another  grand  historical  tableau 
in  the  Sixth  JEpisode,  wherein  is  set  out  the  routine 
of  a  military  camp  on  the  frontier.  The  unfortunate 
General  Custer,  occupying  with  his  regiment  a  stock- 
ade or  log  fort,  receives  intimation  of  the    discovery 


A    WINTER    IN    ENGLAND  I4I 

of  a  camp  of  hostile  Indians  by  his  scouts.  "Boots 
and  saddle"  is  sounded,  and  the  troops  move  off  to 
the  second  scene,  which  is  the  camp  of  Sitting  Bull 
and  his  braves  on  the  Little  Big  Horn  river.  The 
ambush  and  subsequent  massacre  of  the  whole  of  the 
gallant  band  of  white  men  is  presented  with  vivid 
realism,  and  the  battle-field  by  night,  which  closes 
the  episode,  develops  in  its  full  horrors  what  has 
been  fitly  called  'the  reddest  page  of  savage  history. ' 

"A  brilliant  display  of  shooting  on  foot  and  on  horse- 
back by  Buffalo  Bill  himself  is  now  given  in  the 
arena,  and  the  magical  promptitude  with  which  glass 
balls  and  other  small  objects  are  shattered  before  his 
never-erring  aim  at  full  speed  must  be  seen  to  be 
believed.  In  this  remarkable  exhibition,  as  in  the 
other  shooting  performances,  the  iron  fireproof  curtain 
is  made  to  do  duty  as  a  background  or  target,  and 
the  whole  performance  may  be  warranted  to  take  the 
conceit  out  of  any  ordinary  marksman.  It  is  nothing 
less  than  marvelous. 

"The  Seventh  Episode,  which  marks  a  still  later 
period  of  frontier  life,  is  perhaps  the  most  exciting 
and  picturesque  of  the  whole  entertainment.  The 
first  scene  is  a  mining  camp,  'Deadwood  City,*  in 
the  Black  Hills,  with  the  'Wild  West  Tavern'  in  the 
foreground,  and  we  are  treated  seriatim  to  the  inci- 
dents of  a  miner's  holiday,  with  a  shooting  match, 
the  arriviil  of  the  pony-express,  and  a  frontier  duel, 
with  its  characteristic  ending   of   *  another   man   for 


142  BUFFALO    BILL 

breakfast. '  Then  comes  the  departure  of  the  Dead- 
wood  coach,  and  the  scene  changes  to  a  'Canyon' 
or  rocky  pass  in  the  hills.  The  Deadvvood  coach  with 
its  freight  of  passengers,  guards  and  ^shotgun  mes- 
sengers,' is  fallen  upon  in  the  canyon  by  Indians,  and 
a  stubborn  battle  occurs,  in  which  the  passengers  are 
likely  to  succumb,  when  they  are  rescued  by  the 
sudden  appearance  of  Buffalo  Bill  and  the  cowboy 
cavalry. 

"It  will  be  seen  that  there  is  no  lack  of  exciting 
business  in  all  this,  and  the  consumption  of  gun- 
powder is  enormous.  The  members  of  the  company 
go  at  their  work  with  appalling  zest,  and  their  pictur- 
esque mingling  of  spirited  horses,  quaint  costumes 
and  warlike  impedimenta,  in  all  the  wild  confusion  of 
a  frontier  melee,  is  brilliantly  effective.  In  the  third 
scene  of  this  episode  we  return  to  the  mountain 
village,  in  which  the  climax  of  scenic  effect  is  reached 
by  the  production  of  a  genuine  cyclone.  Powerful 
wind-making  machinery  has  been  put  down  for  this 
purpose,  and  a  blast  is  delivered  upon  the  stage  strong 
enough  to  rend  the  log  cabin  to  pieces,  and  scatter 
their  fragments,  together  with  wagons, camp-furniture, 
and  even  human  beings  from  one  side  of  the  stage  to 
the  other.  The  howling  of  the  tornado  and  the  dis- 
astrous effect  of  its  resistless  current  are  realistically 
presented.  How  it  is  done  is,  of  course,  a  stage 
secret,  but  there  is  no  gainsaying  the  magnificent 
completeness  with  which    the   hurricane   gets   in    its 


BACK    TO    AMERICA  I43 

work  and  reduces  the  camp  of  the  little  mining  com- 
munity to  chaos.  This  brings  the  performance  to  an 
effective  close." 

The  winter  at  Manchester  proved  to  be  the  greatest 
triumph  thus  far  won  by  Buffalo  Bill  and  his  wonder- 
ful Wild  West.  From  Liverpool,  across  country 
through  Leeds  and  York  to  Hull  and  New  Castle,  and 
from  Carlisle  as  far  south  at  Birmingham,  crowds  of 
people  of  consequence  and  of  no  consequence,  day 
after  day  throughout  the  entire  winter  season  came 
in  throngs  to  the  vast  amphitheater  to  witness  the 
great  Wild  West's  pictures  of  American  pioneer  life. 


CHAPTER  XXHL 

BACK  TO  AMERICA. 

During  Buffalo  Bill's  stay  in  Manchester  he  met 
with  the  same  ungrudging  and  overwhelming  social 
hospitality  that  had  tried  his  physical  powers  so 
severely  in  the  British  capital.  Of  his  treatment  by 
the  people  of  Manchester,  Buffalo  Bill  has  this  to  say 
in  his  interesting  autobiography: 

"* Thrones,  powers,  dominions,'  and  dynastic  roy- 
alty are  of  course  conspicuous  by  their  absence  from 
this  vast  manufacturing,  money-making  heart  of 
northern  activity.  But  that  sublimer  royalty  of  com- 
merce, of  invention,  of  fire  and  steel,  of  everflying 
shuttle  and  spindle,  here    holds   high    state,  and    its 


144  BUFFALO    BILL 

entertainments  are  princely  in  scope  and  hearty  in 
their  hospitalit}^  They  have  a  pride  of  their  own, 
too,  these  coal  and  cotton  lords  and  self-made  million- 
aires. The  man  himself  and  the  great  things  he  has 
done  for  humanity  are  held  in  more  esteem  than  long 
descent  or  the  glamours  of  inherited  wealth.  I  found 
here  in  fact,  a  closer  resemblance  to  the  natural 
dignity  of  the  American  citizen  than  I  had  experienced 
elsewhere  in  England.  My  invitation  list  would 
occupy  more  space  than  I  can  afford. 

"One  event,  amongst  my  endeavors  to  make  some 
return  for  this  unbounded  stream  of  hospitality, 
caused  a  considerable  sensation  in  the  district,  from 
its  novelty.  It  had  been  determined  by  the  artistic, 
dramatic,  and  literary  gentlemen  of  Manchester  to 
make  me  a  public  presentation  of  a  magnificent  rifle, 
decked  in  flowers  and  gayly  adorned  with  ribbons, 
and  the  event  having  got  wind  in  London,  the  elite 
of  the  metropolitan  literati,  headed  by  Sir  Somers 
Vine  and  including  representatives  of  all  the  great 
American  journals,  secured  a  special  train  and  ran  up 
to  Manchester,  some  hundred  strong,  to  grace  the 
ceremony  with  their  presence.  The  happy  thought 
struck  me  of  inviting  the  whole  crowd  of  local  celeb- 
rities and  London  visitors  to  what  for  them  would  be 
an  entirely  original  lay-out.  This  was  a  camp  dinner, 
with  fried  oysters,  Boston  pork  and  beans,  Maryland 
chicken,  and  other  American  dishes,  and  a  real  In- 
dian 'rib-roast'  as  ihe  piece  de  resistance. 


BACK    TO    AMERICA  145 

"The  presentation,  which  took  place  in  the  arena, 
being  over,  the  banquet  was  held  in  the  race-course 
pavilion.  The  Mayor  of  Salford  and  a  number  of 
civic  dignitaries  from  both  Manchester  and  the  neigh- 
boring borough  graced  the  table  with  their  presence; 
United  States  Consul  Moffat  of  London  honored  me 
with  his  company  and  Consul  Hale  of  Manchester — 
a  gentleman  held  in  high  and  well  deserved  respect 
by  the  whole  of  the  rich  and  powerful  community 
amongst  whom  he  resides  and  labors — made  the 
speech  of  the  evening.  Nate  Salsbury,  as  the  vice- 
chairman,  simply  excelled  himself;  and  the  comments 
of  the  English  guests  upon  the  novel  and  to  them 
outlandish  fare  they  were  consuming  were  highly 
amusing  to  us  of  the  American  party.  I  have  reason 
to  believe  that  the  corn-cake,  hominy,  and  other 
American  fixings,  were  a  complete  revelation  to  them. 
The  rib-roast,  served  in  tin  platters  and  eaten  in  the 
fingers,  without  knives  or  forks,  was  a  source  of  huge 
wonderment.  I  reckon  that  Englishmen  never 
toasted  the  American  flag  more  heartily,  and  for  a 
week  afterwards  the  press  of  the  country  was  dilating 
on  the  strange  and  savage  doings  at  the  Wild  West 
(amp. 
■  "On  Monday  evening,  May  ist,  the  Wild  West  gave 
its  last  indoor  representation,  in  the  presence  of  a  vast 
and  very  enthusiastic  audience;  bouquets  were  pre- 
s<inted  to  various  members  of  the  company,  and  when 
Buffalo  Bill  appeared  he  met  with  one  of  the  warmest 


146  BUFFALO    BILL 

receptions  of  his  life.  Bouquets  were  thrown,  handed 
and  carried  into  the  arena  to  him  while  the  vast 
audience  cheered,  waved  hats,  umbrellas  and  hand- 
kerchiefs, jumped  upon  their  feet,  and  in  fact  the 
scene  was  very  suggestive  of  pandemonium. 

"Every  act  went  with  a  rush  and  a  cheer,  and  was 
received  by  cries  of  *  bravo,'  Svell  done,*  etc.  At 
the  close  of  the  exhibition  calls  were  made  for  Red 
Shirt  and  Buffalo  Bill,  in  response  to  which  the  later 
expressed  his  thanks  to  his  auditors,  and  assured 
them  that  the  recollection  of  that  evening's  display 
of  kindness  would  ever  be  fresh  in  his  memory." 

On  Friday  morning,  May  4th,  at  1 1  a.  m.  ,  amid  the 
cheers,  well-wishes,  and  handshaking  of  a  vast  crowd, 
the  Wild  West  left  Manchester  by  special  train  for 
Hull,  where  the  last  performance  in  England  was 
given  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  May  5th,  and  at 
9  o'clock  on  that  evening  the  entire  effects  of  the 
monster  aggregation  were  aboard  the  good  ship 
"Persian  Monarch,"  upon  which  vessel,  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  brave,  gallant,  and  courteous  Captain 
Bristow,  the  Wild  West  left  for  New  York  the  next 
morning  at  3  o'clock.  On  the  homeward  voyage 
Colonel  Cody's  favorite  horse  Charlie  died.  For 
fifteen  years  he  had  ridden  Charlie  in  sunshine  and 
in  storm,  in  days  of  adversity  as  well  as  prosperity, 
and  to  this  noble  animal's  fleetness  of  foot  Colonel 
Cody  owed  his  life  on  more  than  one  occasion  when 
pursued  by  Indians. 


BACK    TO    AMERICA  I47 

During  the  night  of  May  19th,  the  'Persian  Mon- 
arch' arrived  off  New  York  harbor,  and  by  daylight 
ot  the  20th  steamed  up  toward  Staten  Island,  where 
they  were  to  debark. 

The  magnificent  welcome  home  accorded  them  on 
their  arrival  at  New  York,  was  thus  graphically  re- 
ported in  the  New  York  World, 

"The  harbor  has  probably  never  known  a  more 
picturesque  scene  than  was  witnessed  yesterday  morn- 
ing, when  the  ^Persian  Monarch'  steamed  up  from 
Quarantine,  with  Buffalo  Bill  standing  on  the 
captain's  bridge,  his  tall  and  striking  figure  clearly 
outlined  and  his  long  hair  waving  in  the  wind,  with 
the  gayly  painted  and  blanketed  Indians  leaning  over 
the  ship's  rail,  with  the  flags  of  all  nations  fluttering 
from  the  masts  and  connecting  cables,  and  the  band 
playing  'Yankee  Doodle'  with  a  vim  and  enthusiasm 
which  faintly  indicated  rhe  joy  felt  by  everybody  con- 
nected with  the  Wild  West  exhibition,  including  the 
musicians,  over  the  sight  of  home.  The  stolid  In- 
dians had  lost  their  stolidity,  and  the  white  men  on 
board  declared  that  from  the  time  che  rising  sun  had 
enabled  the  redskins  to  discover  America,  or  that 
3art  of  it  known  as  Staten  Island,  unwonted  bustle 
;ind  excitement  had  reigned  supreme. 

"Cut  Meat,  American  Bear,  Flat  Iron,  Tall  Horse, 
Kills  Plenty  and  scores  more  of  chiefs,  braves  and 
squaws  hugged  the  ship's  side  and  watched  every 
movement  of  the  accompanying  tugs  until  the  great 


148  BUFFALO    BILL 

vessel  was  towed  up  alongside  the  long  wharf  at 
Tomkinsville,  and  the  huzzas  of  two  thousand  small 
boys  and  the  noisy  excitement  of  what  seemed  to  be 
Staten  Island's  entire  population.  And  it  was  a 
great  day  for  Staten  Island.  So  far  as  is  known  the 
^Persian  Monarch'  is  the  first  great  ocean  steamer 
which  has  ever  landed  there,  and  this,  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  unusual  nature  of  her  passengers 
and  her  cargo,  furnished  abundant  reason  for  the 
greatest  possible  commotion,  excitement  and  disturb- 
ance whereof  Mr.  Wiman's  small  kingdom  is  capable. 

"All  the  teamsters  for  miles  around  had  been  en- 
gaged to  carry  the  outfit  of  the  exhibition  and  of  the 
exhibitors  across  the  island  to  Erastina,  and  the  wharf 
was  in  consequence  a  confused  commingling  of  express 
\vagons,  butcher  carts,  carpenter's  wagons  and  other 
kinds  of  vehicles,  with  horses  attached  generally  on 
their  haunches,  in  response  to  the  excited  demands 
of  vociferous  drivers.  If  this  scene  needed  any  further 
animation  it  was  provided  by  the  small  boys  dodging 
imminent  death,  and  scores  of  pretty  girls  in  their 
Sunday  best,  scurrying  away  from  out  the  reach  of 
the  horses'  indiscriminate  hoofs. 

"The  landing  was  at  last  effected,  and  Buffalo  Bill, 
with  his  daughter  and  Major  Burke,  the  general  man- 
ager of  the  Wild  West,  Col.  Ochiltree,  George  Trim- 
ble Davidson  and  several  reporters,  came  up  to  the 
city  on  the  tugboat  Charles  Stickney.  Nate  Salsbury, 
Col.   Cody's   partner,    remained    on    the   island   and 


BACK    TO    AMERICA  149 

during  the  day  the  Indians  and  cowboys,  with  their 
tents,  the  Indian  ponies  and  bucking  horses,  the 
Deadwood  coach  and  emigrant  wagons  and  all  the 
paraphernalia  of  the  show  were  transfererd  to  Eras- 
tina." 

Though  Buffalo  Bill  has  ample  cause  to  be  proud 
of  his  triumphant  success  across  the  sea  and  his  royal 
welcome  home,  the  only  thing  of  which  he  has  pro- 
claimed himself  proud,  is  the  cordial  recognition  of 
his  services  by  his  old  army  friend,  General  W.  T. 
Sherman,  as  conveyed  to  him  in  the  following  friendly 

letter: 

"Fifth  Avenue  Hotel, 

"New  York,  June  29,  1887. 
"Hon.  Wm.  F.  Cody, 

London,  England. 

"Dear   Cody:    *    *    *  In  common  with  all   your 

countrymen,  I  want  to  let  you  know  that  I    am    not 

only  gratified,  but  proud  of   your    management    and 

j»eneral  behavior;  so  far  as  I  can  make  out,  you  have 

been  modest,  graceful,  and  dignified  in  all  you  have 

done  to  illustrate  the  history   of  civilization   on    this 

continent  during  the  past  century. 

("I  am  especially  pleased  with  the  graceful  and  pretty 
ompliment  paid  you  by  the  Princess  of  Wales,  who 
ode  in  the  Deadwood  coach  while  it  was  attacked  by 
the  Indians  and  rescued  by  the  cowboys.  Such  things 
did  occur  in  our  days,  and  may  never  again. 

t**AsnearasIcan  estimate  there  were  in  1865  about 
ne  and  a  half  million  of  buffaloes  on  the  plains  be- 


150  BUFFALO    BILL 

tween  the  Missouri  River  and  the  Rocky  Mountains; 
all  are  now  gone — killed  for  their  meat,  their  skins 
and  bones.  This  seems  like  desecration,  cruelty  and 
murder,  yet  they  have  been  replaced  by  twice  as 
many  neat  cattle.  At  that  date  there  were  about 
165,000  Pawnees,  Sioux,  Cheyennes,  Kiowas  and 
Arapahoes,  who  depended  upon  these  buffaloes  for 
their  yearly  food.  They,  too,  are  gone,  and  have 
been  replaced  by  twice  or  thrice  as  many  v;hite  men 
and  women,  who  have  made  the  earth  to  blossom  as 
the  rose,  and  who  can  be  counted,  taxed  and  governed 
by  the  laws  of  nature  and  civilization.  This  change 
has  been  salutary,  and  will  go  on  to  the  end.  You 
have  caught  one  epoch  of  the  world's  history,  have 
illustrated  it  in  the  very  heart  of  the  modern  world — 
London — and  I  want  you  to  feel  that  on  this  side  the 
water  we  appreciate  it. 

"This  drama  must  end;  days,  years  and  centuries 
follow  fast,  even  the  drama  of  civilization  must  have 
an  end.  All  I  am  to  accomplish  on  this  sheet  of 
paper  is  to  assure  you  that  I  fully  recognize  your 
work,  and  that  the  presence  of  the  Queen,  the  beau- 
tiful Princess  of  Wales,  and  British  public,  are  marks 
of  favor  which  reflect  back  on  America,  sparks  of 
light  which  illuminate  many  a  house  and  cabin  in  the 
land  where  once  you  guided  me,  honestly  and  faith- 
fully, in  1865-6  from  Fort  Riley  to  Kearney  in  Kansas 

and  Nebraska. 

"Sincerely  your  friend, 

"W.  T.  Sherman." 


TAKES    IN    THE    WORLD  X5I 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

TAKES  IN  THE  WORLD. 

Not  satisfied  with  winning  the  applause  of  the 
United  States  and  England,  Buffalo  Bill  was  impa- 
tient to  present  his  Wild  West  show  to  all  the  nations 
of  Europe. 

To  desire  a  thing  to  be  done  is  with  Buffalo  Bill  to 
do  it,  and  so  it  was  not  long  after  his  return  from  Eng- 
land until  he  was  preparing  for  another  Wild  West 
trip  across  the  ocean,  this  time  to  Paris,  thence  through 
Continental  Europe,  back  to  old  England  again,  and 
then  home  for  another  short  rest  and  grander  prepa- 
rations than  ever  for  another  triumphal  tour  of  the 
Wild  West  to  the  principal  cities  of  the  old  world. 

The  majestic  "Persian  Monarch"  was  again  called 
into  requisition,  and  Buffalo  Bill  and  his  troupe  were 
once  more  experiencing  "a  life  on  the  ocean's  wave, 
a  home  on  the  boundless  deep." 

The  company  arrived  in  Paris  in  good  shape,  met 
with  an  enthusiastic  welcome,  and  played  a  season 
of  seven  months  to  tremendous  crowds. 

From  Paris  the  Wild  West  proceeded  on  a  tour 
through  the  South  of  France,  and  into  Spain  and 
Italy. 

11 


I 


152  BUFFALO    BILL 

An  interesting  incident  of  its  visit  to  Rome  was 
thus  related  in  a  special  cablegram  to  the  New  York 
Hei-aldy  printed  in  that  paper  March  4,  1890: 

"Rome,  March  3d. — One  of  the  strangest  spectacles 
ever  seen  within  the  walls  of  the  Vatican  was  the 
dramatic  entry  of  Buffalo  Bill  at  the  head  of  his 
Indians  and  cowboys  this  morning,  when  the  ecclesi- 
astical and  secular  military  court  of  the  Holy  See 
assembled  to  witness  the  twelfth  annual  thanksgiving 
of  Leo  XIII.  for  his  coronation.  In  the  midst  of  the 
splendid  scene,  crowded  with  the  old  Roman  aristoc- 
racy and  surrounded  by  walls  immortalized  by  Michael 
Angelo  and  Raphael,  there  suddenly  appeared  a  host 
of  savages  in  war-paint,  feathers  and  blankets,  carry- 
ing tomahawks  and  knives. 

"A  vast  multitude  surged  in  the  great  square  before 
St.  Peter's  early  in  the  morning  to  witness  the  arrival 
of  the  Americans.  Before  half-past  9  o'clock  the 
Ducal  Hall,  Royal  Hall,  and  Sistine  Chapel  of  the 
Vatican  were  packed  with  those  who  had  influence 
enough  to  obtain  admittance.  Through  the  middle 
of  the  three  audiences  the  pathway  was  bordered 
with  the  brilliant  uniforms  of  the  Swiss  Guards, 
Palatine  Guards,  papal  gendarmes  and  private 
chamberlains.  The  sunlight  fell  upon  the  lines  of 
glittering  steel,  nodding  plumes,  golden  chains,  shim- 
mering robes  of  silk,  and  all  the  blazing  emblems  of 
pontifical  power  and  glory. 


TAKES    IN    THE    WORLD  153 

THE  "wild  west"   MAKE     THEIR  ENTREE. 

"Suddenly  a  tall  and  chivalrous  figure  appeared  at 
the  entrance,  and  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  him. 
It  was  Col.  W.  F.  Cody,  "Buffalo  Bill."  With  a 
sweep  of  his  great  sombrero  he  saluted  the  chamber- 
lains, and  then  strode  between  the  guards  with  his 
partner,  Mr.  Nate  Salsbury,  by  his  side. 

"Rocky  Bear  led  the  Sioux  warriors,  who  brought 
up  the  rear.  They  were  painted  in  every  color  that 
Indian  imagination  could  devise.  Every  man  carried 
something  with  which  to  make  big  medicine  in  the 
presence  of  the  great  medicine  man  sent  by  the  great 
spirit. 

Rocky  Bear  rolled  his  eyes  and  folded  his  hands  on 
his  breast  as  he  stepped  on  tiptoe  through  the  glowing 
sea  of  color.  His  braves  furtively  eyed  the  halbreds 
and  two-handed  swords  of  the  Swiss  Guards. 

"The  Indian  and  cowboys  were  ranged  in  the  south 
corners  of  the  Ducal  Hall.  Colonel  Cody  and  Mr 
Salsbury  were  escorted  into  the  Sistine  Chapel  by 
chamberlains,  where  they  were  greeted  by  Miss  Sher- 
man, daughter  of  General  Sherman.  A  princess  in- 
vited Colonel  Cody  to  a  place  in  the  tribune  of  the 
Roman  nobles. 

"He  stood  facing  the  gorgeous  Diplomatic  Corps, 
surrounded  by  the  Prince  and  Princess  Borghesi,  the 
Marquis  Serlupi,  Princess  Bandini,  Duchess  di 
Grazioli,  Prince  and  Princess    Massimo,  Prince    and 


154  BUFFALO    BILL 

Princess  Ruspoli,  and  all  the  ancient   noble   families 
of  the  city. 

THE  PAPAL  BLESSING. 

When  the  Pope  appeared  in  the  Sedia  gestatoria. 
carried  above  the  heads  of  his  guards,  preceded  by 
the  Knights  of  Malta  and  a  procession  of  cardinals 
and  archbishops,  the  cowboys  bowed,  and  so  did  the 
Indians.  Rocky  Bear  knelt  and  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross.  The  pontiff  leaned  affectionately  toward 
the  rude  groups  and  blessed  them.  He  seemed  to  be 
touched  by  the  sight. 

"As  the  papal  train  swept  on  the  Indians  became 
excited,  and  a  squaw  fainted.  They  had  been  warned 
not  to  utter  a  sound,  and  were  with  difficulty  re- 
strained from  whooping. 

"The  Pope  looked  at  Colonel  Cody  intently  as  he 
passed,  and  the  great  scout  and  Indian  fighter  bent 
low  as  he  received  the  pontifical  benediction. 

"After  the  thanksgiving  mass,  with  its  grand  choral 
accompaniment  and  now  and  then  the  sound  of  Leo 
XIII. 's  voice  heard  ringing  through  the  chapel,  the 
great  audience  poured  out  of  the  Vatican." 

The  company  visited  Venice,  Florence,  Bologna, 
Milan,  Verona,  Munich,  Vienna,  Berlin,  Dresden, 
Leipsic,  Hanover,  Brunswick,  Hamburg,  Bremen, 
Dusseldorf,  Frankfort,  Stuttgart,  and  Strasburg,  at 
which  latter  city  it  went  into  winter  quarters. 

Here  Buffalo  Bill  again  showed  himself  to  be   the 


TAKES    IN   THE    WORLD  I55 

same  patriotic  American  he  was  when  in  the  service 
of  the  government  as  guide  and  scout. 

Learning  of  the  probable  outbreak  of  Indian 
troubles  in  Dakota  and  Nebraska,  he  decided  to  at 
once  return  to  America  and  offer  his  services  in  the 
campaign  against  the  Indians. 

Leaving  the  Wild  West  aggregation  in  charge  of 
his  business  partner,  Buffalo  Bill  departed  for 
America,  and  immediately  upon  his  arrival  proceeded 
to  the  seat  of  the  Indian  difficulties  in  the  distant 
state  of  Dakota. 

He  was  at  once  appointed  aid  in  chief  on  the  staf! 
of  Governor  Thayer,  of  Nebraska,  with  the  rank  of 
Brigadier  General  and  rendered  valuable  services  in 
the  Indian  campaign  that  followed. 

At  the  close  of  the  campaign  he  selected  another 
band  of  Indians,  including  a  number  held  as  "hos- 
tages" by  the  military  under  General  Nelson  A.  Miles 
at  Fort  Sheridan,  and  again  left  for  Europe,  in  the 
Red  Star  steamer  "Switzerland."  Before  returning  to 
America  the  Wild  West  agam  visited  England,  giving 
successful  exhibitions  in  Leeds,  Birmingham,  Liver- 
pool, Manchester,  Sheffield,  Stoke-on-Trent,  Notting- 
ham, Leicester,  Cardiff,  Bristol,  Portsmouth,  Glasgow, 
and  then  back  to  London,  where  Buffalo  Bill  gave  a 
special  performance  in  the  grounds  of  Windsor  Castle 
before  the  Queen  and  her  invited  guests. 

After  returning  to  America  Buffalo  Bill  and  his 
partner  set  to  work  reorganizing  the  Wild  West  show 


156  BUFFALO    BILL 

for  performances  to  be  given  in  connection  with  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago. 

The  result  of  their  efforts  in  this  behalf  is  too  well 
known  to  the  world  to  need  recording  here,  "Buffalo 
Bill's  Wild  West  and  Congress  of  Rough  Riders  of  the 
World,"  has  been  visited  by  throngs  of  people  from 
every  civilized  and  semi-civilized  portion  of  the  world, 
and  if  any  of  them  were  disappointed  or  dissatisfied 
with  the  show,  that  fact  has  never  been  made  public. 

The  close  of  the  season  at  Chicago  is  thus  referred 
to  by  the  Chicago  Tribune,  in  its  edition  of  Sunday, 
October  28th,   1893: 

CLOSE  OF  THE  'WILD  WEST'  SEASON. 

"Next  Tuesday  evening  Buffalo  Bill's  Indians  will 
don  their  war  paint  and  trappings  for  the  last  time, 
and  the  cowboy  riders,  who  have  interested  and 
thrilled  almost  a  million  people  since  the  beginning 
of  the  World's  Fair,  will  swing  into  the  saddles  of 
their  shaggy  Indian  ponies  for  a  final  dash  around  the 
inclosure  of  the  *Wild  West*  arena.  The  Cossacks 
and  Arabs  and  Mexicans  who  are  unused  to  the  chill- 
ing blasts  of  an  approaching  northern  winter  and  who 
have  lately  ridden  about  the  confines  of  the  arena 
hooded  and  bundled  in  their  long  mantles,  will  soon 
depart  for  their  homes?  in  a  more  temperate  clim.ate. 
The  rattle  of  musketry  which  has  been  a  familiar 
sound  out  near  Stony  Island  avenue  and  Sixty-third 
street  will  cease.     The  season    of   the   great    'Wild 


TAKES    IN    THE    WORLD  157 

West,  *  which  has  been  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
remunerative  in  Col.  William  F.  Cody's  wide  expe- 
rience will  come  to  an  end.  The  secret  of  the  suc- 
cess of  the  *  Wild  West'  has  been  that  Col.  Cody  has 
not  failed  to  realize  every  promise  he  has  made.  Not 
one  of  the  features  of  the  performance  has  been 
omitted  from  the  entertainment  at  any  time,  no 
matter  what  have  been  the  conditions  of  the  weather, 
and  promptly  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  at 
8  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  veteran  scout  has 
galloped  out  upon  the  magnificent  charger  presented 
to  him  by  Gen.  Miles,  followed  by  his  hordes  of  rough 
riders  and  companies  of  trained  cavalry.  The  per- 
formances have  never  failed  to  be  interesting  and 
they  have  at  no  time  lost  the  snap  and  vigor  that 
constant  repetition  so  often  tames.  The  financial 
return  to  the  management  has  been  unexpectedly 
great,  yet  no  one  will  be  inclined  to  grudge  them 
their  success,  as  it  has  been  amply  deserved.  At  the 
close  of  the  season  Buffalo  Bill  will  go  to  New  York. 
He  has  leased  a  tract  of  ground  in  the  central  part 
of  Brooklyn,  where  he  proposes  to  give  a  series  of 
exhibitions  similar  to  his  World's  Fair  *Wild  West.' 


158  BUFFALO    BILL 


CHx\PTER  XXV. 

SOME  ACCOUNTS  OF  WILD  BILL* 

A  biography  of  Buffalo  Bill  would  not  be  com- 
plete without  some  accounts  of  Wild  Bill,  his  whi- 
lom boon  companion. 

Among  what  influences,  whether  religious  or  other- 
wise, the  days  of  his  infancy  Were  spent,  we  have  no 
means  of  knowing.  Scanty  means  incident  to  farm 
life  in  a  new  country  necessarily  deprived  the  youth 
of  educational  privileges  to  any,  great  extent,  and 
we  conclude  that  his  taste  in  other  directions — his 
love  for  nature,  and  finding  out  her  secrets — largely 
overpowered  the  desire  for  mere  book-knowledge. 

We  find  him  getting  the  training  and  making  ready 
for  the  pioneer  life  for  which  he  early  showed  a  love, 
by  obtaining  through  his  own  exertions  a  pony,  knife, 
and  revolver.  This  v/as  not  a  strange  fancy  when 
we  take  into  consideration  the  unsettled  condition  of 
the  country,  the  necessity  for  defense  against  hostile 
Indians,  the  wild  animals  to  be  subdued,  besides  the 
countless  other  needs  that  these  would  help  to  meet. 
With  these,  all  his  own,  to  use  as  often  as  he  willed, 
be   soon    became   an    expert  in  hunting.      He    also 


SOME    ACCOUNTS    OF    WILD    BILL  15^ 

acquired  skill  in  trapping.   His  later  experiences  only 
perfected  these  accomplishments. 

As  an  example  of  his  wonderful  skill  as  a  marks- 
man we  cite  the  following,  as  related  in  "Adventures 
of  Wild  Bill"  by  Ingraham: 

"Failing  in  an  effort  to  secure  employment  at  once 
in  Kansas  whither  he  had  gone  in  search  of  advent- 
ure, he  sought  to  enlist  with  the  *Red  Legs,'  an 
anti-slavery  band  under  the  leadership  of  the  noted 
Jim  Lane.  This  band  numbered  some  three  hundred 
men,  all  thoroughly  armed  and  mounted;  but  not 
having  the  wherewithal  to  purchase  a  horse  and  com- 
plete equipment,  he  was  refused  as  a  *Red  LegRanger,' 
greatly  to  his  distress. 

"A  few  days  after  this  the  Red  Legs  went  out  on 
the  commons  to  shoot  with  rifles  and  pistols  for  prizes, 
and  our  youth  determined  to  get  into  the  ring  if  pos- 
sible. 

"To  attract  attention,  when  any  one  shot  and  did 
not  drive  the  bull's  eye,  he  laughed  in  a  satirical  way, 
till  at  last  one  of  the  Red  Legs  turned  fiercely  upon 
him  and  said:  'Look  a  hyar,  boy,  you  has  too  much 
laugh,  as  if  you  c'u'd  do  better;  an'  durn  my  skins, 
ef  yer  haint  a  Red  Leg,  I'll  give  yer  a  chance  to 
shoot.  Ef  yer' takes  ther  prize,  I'll  pay  yer  put-up 
dust,  an'  ef  yer  don't,  I'll  take  the  hickory  ramrod 
o'  my  rifle  an'  welt  yer  nigh  ter  death.  Does  yer 
shoot  on  my  terms.?' 

"*I  will,  and  beat  you  too,  was  the  quiet  response. 


l6o  BUFFALO    niLL 

"All  eyes  bad  been  turned  on  the  tall,  handsome 
youth  before  them,  and  several  had  determined  to 
try  his  metal,  after  the  shooting,  for  having  laughed 
at  them,  and  now  they  gazed  on  him  with  increased 
interest. 

"There  were  three  prizes,  viz:  a  fine  horse,  saddle 
and  bridle  for  the  first ;  a  rifle  and  belt,  with  two  re- 
volvers and  a  bowie-knife  for  the  second,  and  a  purse 
of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  third. 

"He  had  some  little  money,  and  said  quietly: 

"*ril  pay  the  fees,  for  I  want  no  man  to  give  me 
money. ' 

"*Then  shell  out;  it's  fifteen  fer  the  first,  ten  fer 
the  second,  and  five  dollars  fer  ther  third  prize,  an' 
ther  boys  hes  all  chipped  in,  an'  ef  yer  don't  win, 
boy,  they'll  all  see  me  larrup  yer.* 

"The  speaker,  Shanghai  Bill,  all  knew,  and  greatly 
feared,  for  he  was  a  desperado  of  the  worst  type,  a 
giant  in  size  and  strength,  and  ever  ready  to  get 
into  a  brawl. 

"The  boy  smiled  at  his  words,  paid  his  thirty  dol- 
lars, which  left  him  with  three  in  his  pocket,  and 
after  the  Red  Legs  had  shot,  took  his  stand,  and  rais- 
ing his  rifle,  quickly  fired.  The  first  to  start  the  cheer, 
was  Jim  Lane  himself,  who  cried  out: 

"'By  heaven!  the  best  shot  in  the  three  hun- 
dred.* 

"*It's  a  accident;  besides,  Gineral,  ther*s  two  more 
to  be  shooted, '  growled  Shanghai   Bill. 


SOME    ACCOUNTS    OF   WILD    BILL  l6l 

"The  two  more  were  then  shot  in  the  same  quick 
way  as  before,  and  the  bullets  found    dead  center. 

"'I've  got  the  horse,  saddle  and  bridle  toward  be- 
coming a  Red  Leg,  General, '  said  the  boy  quietly, 
addressing  Lane. 

"*You  have,  indeed;  now  see  if  you  can  win  the 
arms,  and  egad,  I  believe  you  can,*  was  Lane's 
reply. 

"These  were  to  be  shot  for  with  pistols,  and  at 
twenty  paces,  the  best  two  in  three  shots,  and  once 
more  three  dead  center  bull's-eyes  were  scored  by 
the  lad. 

"The  men  now  became  deeply  interested  in  the 
youth,  and  watched  eagerly  for  him  to  come  to  his 
third  trial,  which  was  to  be  with  a  rifle  at  a  moving 
object,  a  hundred  yards  off.  This  object  was  a  round 
piece  of  wood,  painted  red,  which  was  to  be  rplled, 
like  a  wheel,  along  the  ground,  and  at  it  three  shots 
were  given.  Just  as  the  man  who  rolled  it  started  it 
in  motion,  a  crow  flew  over  the  field  above  the  heads 
of  the  crowd,  and  instantly  raising  his  rifle,  he  fired 
and  brought  him  down,  while  he  immediately  seized 
the  weapon  held  by  Shanghai  Bill,  and  throwing  it 
to  a  level,  sent  a  bullet  through  the  red  wheel  ere  it 
had  stopped  rolling. 

"This  double  feat,  and  one  shot  with  a  strange  rifle, 
set  the  crowd  wild  with  enthusiasm." 

This  is  only  one  instance  among  numberless  ex- 
hibitions of  his  unerring   aim,  which  not  only   pro- 


I 52  BUFFALO    BILL 

tected  the  weak  and  innocent,   but   as  often  dealt 
death  to  foes. 

An  account  is  given  of  the  wonderful  rescue  of  a 
small  child.  A  bear  having  crept  undiscovered  near 
the  cabin  of  an  early  settler,  seized  the  child  by  its 
clothing,  and  was  making  fast  tracks  for  the  forest, 
when  young  Bill,  discovering  the  fearful  situation, 
pursued  the  animal,  and  shot  him  until  he  dropped 
the  terrified  infant,  and  turned  upon  him.  Then  it 
was  that  he  put  an  end  to  the  life  of  the  beast,  and 
catching  up  the  child,  soon  returned  him  to  his  par- 
ents. This  brave  act  settied  an  old  difficulty  between 
the  father  and  himself,  and  made  them  firm  friends 
ever  after. 

For  a  time  he  rendered  efficient  aid  to  the  Overland 
Stage  Company  as  driver.  While  serving  in  this  ca- 
pacity he  was  once  intercepted  by  a  band  of  Indians. 
As  the  road  in  front  was  an  ascending  grade  for  the 
remainder  of  the  distance  to  the  station,  he  was 
confident  that  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  a  pas- 
sage with  any  hope  of  escape,  unless  their  numbers 
could  be  reduced,  or  some  successful  device  conceived 
of  removing  them  from  the  way.  To  effect  this, 
he  made  a  short  turn,  and  urged  his  team  forward  to 
their  utmost  exertions,  thus  deceiving  the  savages, 
who  fancied  that  he  was  about  to  make  the  distance 
by  another  route. 

Believing  their  energies  were  partially  spent  in  gain- 
ing a  new  point  from  which    to  operate,  he  suddenly 


SOME    ACCOUNTS    OF    WILD    BILL  163 

turned  again,  having  won  considerable  time  by  this 
strategic  movement,  and  used  every  art  known  to 
horsemen  to  excite  his  team  to  the  greatest  speed. 
The  Indians,  perceiving  the  trick,  retraced  the  ground 
with  fearful  swiftness — those  who  were  not  already 
exhausted — and  reached  the  edge  of  a  narrow  river 
that  must  be  crossed,  and  there  made  their  attack. 

Wild  Bill's  desperate  courage  stood  by  him  as,  with 
the  lines  firmly  secured,  he  made  good  use  of  his 
trusty  revolvers,  while  his  team  broke  through  the 
yelling  savages,  and  entered  the  stream,  showered 
by  the  arrows  of  their  assailants,  which  carried  death 
to  all  but  two  of  the  occupants  of  the  coach.  These, 
as  well  as  the  brave  driver,  were  wounded,  though 
not  seriously,  and  pushed  forward,  though  closely 
pursued,  until  assistance  reached  them,  when  they 
were  able  to  overthrow  the  remnant  of  the  band. 

Wild  Bill  scored  many  a  success  as  an  Indian- 
fighter,  as  the  Generals  whom  he  served  can  attest, 
in  obtaining  which  his  knowledge  of  wood-craft  was 
of  great  assistance.  We  learn  of  him  as  a  pony  ex- 
press rider  winning  new  laurels  for  fidelity  and  daring, 
and  gallant  conduct. 

In  whatever  capacity  he  served,  he  thoroughly  mas- 
tered the  situation,  though  death  stared  him  in  the 
face.  Many  times  was  he  wounded  so  that  it  re- 
quired weeks  and  months  of  nursing  to  restore  him 
to  usefulness,  but  neither  this,  nor  the  pain  he  en- 
dured, could    unnerve  him.     He  was  always  a  terror 


164  BUFFALO    BILL 

tO  the  lawless,  stage-robbers,  horse-thieves,  and 
mean  men  of  every  description,  they  giving  him  a 
wide  berth  after  once  learnmg,  by  actual  contact, 
his  true  metal,  if  they  were  so  fortunate  as  once  to 
escape  with  their  lives. 

Let  us  now  look  at  his  career  as  scout  and  spy  du- 
ring our  Civil  war,  when  he  "encountered  many 
perils  and  suffered  many  privations  in  defense  of  our 
nationality."  In  Harper's  Magazine  a  lieutenant  is 
made  to  tell  one  of  the  most  daring  feats  ever  at- 
tempted,   which  we  quote: 

"I  can't  tell  the  thing  as  it  was,"  said  the  young 
officer.  "It  was  beyond  description.  One  could 
only  hold  his  breath  and  feel.  It  happened  when 
our  regiment  was  attached  to  Curtis'  command,  in 
the  expedition  down  into  Arkansas.  One  day  we 
were  in  the  advance,  and  began  to  feel  the  enemy, 
who  appeared  in  greater  strength  than  at  any  time 
before.  We  were  all  rather  uneasy,  for  there  were 
rumors  that  Kirby  Smith  had  come  up  from  Texas 
with  all  his  force,  and  as  we  were  only  a  strong  rec- 
onnoitering  party,  a  fight  just  then  might  have  been 
bad  for  us.  We  made  a  big  noise  with  a  light  battery, 
and  stretched  our  cavalry  out  in  the  open,  and  op- 
posite the  rebel  cavalry,  who  were  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle  on  the  slope  of  the  prairie,  about  a  thou- 
sand yards  away.  There  we  sat  for  half  an  hour, 
now  and  then  banging  at  each  other,  but  both  parties 
keeping  pretty  well  their  line  of  battle.  They  waited 


SOME    ACCOUNTS   OF   WILD    BILL  165 

for  US  to  pitch  in.     We    were    waiting  till  more    of 
our  infantry  should  come, 

"It  was  getting  to  be  stupid  work,  however, 
and  we  were  all  hoping  something  would  turn 
up,  when  we  noticed  two  men  ride  out  from  the 
center  of  their  line,  and  move  toward  us.  At 
the  first  instant  we  paid  little  heed  to  them,  sup- 
posing it  some  act  of  rebel  bravado,  when  we  saw 
quite  a  commotion  all  along  the  enemy's  front,  and 
then  they  commenced  firing  at  the  two  riders,  and 
their  line  was  all  enveloped  with  smoke,  out  of 
which  horsemen  dashed  in  pursuit.  The  two  riders 
kept  well  together,  coming  straight  for  us.  Then 
we  knew  they  were  trying  to  escapej  and  the  Colonel 
deployed  one  company  as  skirmishers  to  assist  them. 
There  wasn't  time  to  do  much,  although,  as  I  watched 
the  pursued  and  their  pursuers,  and  found  the  two 
men  had  halted  at  what  I  could  see  was  a  deep  ditch, 
the  moments  seemed  to  be  hours;  and  when  they 
turned,  I  thought  they  were  going  to  give  them- 
selves up.  But  no;  in  the  face  of  that  awful  fire, 
they  deliberately  turned  back,  to  get  space  for  a  gcod 
run  at  the  ditch.  This  gave  time  for  two  of  their 
pursuers  to  get  within  a  few  yards  of  them,  when 
they  stopped,  evidently  in  doubt  as  to  the  meaning 
of  this  retrograde  movement.  They  did  not  remain 
long  in  doubt,  for  the  two  men  turned  again,  and 
with  a  shout,  rushed  for  the  ditch,  and  then  we  were 
near  enough  to  see  that  they  were  Wild  Bill  and  his 


I 66  BUFFALO    BILL 

mate.  Bill's  companion  never  reached  the  ditch. 
He  and  his  horse  must  have  been  shot  at  the  same 
time,  for  they  went  down  together,  and  did  not  rise 
again. 

"Bill  did  not  get  a  scratch.  He  spoke  to  Black 
Nell,  the  mare  he  rode,  who  knew  as  well  as  her 
master  that  there  was  life  and  death  in  that  twenty 
feet  of  ditch,  and  that  she  must  jump  it;  and  at  it 
she  went  with  a  big  rush.  I  never  saw  a  more  mag- 
nificent sight.  Bill  gave  the  mare  her  head,  and 
turning  in  his  saddle,  fired  twice,  killing  both  of  his 
pursuers,,  who  were  within  a  few  lengths  of  him. 
They  went  out  of  their  saddles  like  stones,  just  as 
Black  Nell  flew  into  the  air  and  landed  safely  on 
our  side  of  the  ditch.  In  a  moment  both  the  daring 
scout  and  the  brave  mare  were  in  our  midst,  while 
our  men  cheered  and  yelled  like  mad." 

"Wild  Bill  had  secured  all  the  information  that 
could  be  obtained  from  the  Confederates  and,  as  an 
engagement  was  about  to  take  place,  he  decided 
to  make  a  bold  dash  for  the  Union  side.  He  un- 
doubtedly enjoyed  the  prospect  of  danger  connected 
with  the  adventure,  or  he  certainly  would  have  at- 
tempted escape  by  a  less  conspicuous  method.  He  had 
entered  their  lines  in  disguise  as  *a  boy  in  gray, ' 
to  avoid  detection.    ^ 

"Several  times  in  different  disguises  he  entered  the 
enemy's  lines,  and  once  was  discovered  and  sentenced 
to  execution;     but   escaped  without  injury,  to  again 


SOME    ACCOUNTS    OF    WILD    BILL  167 

baffle  the  sharpest  of  their  detectives  and  reveal  plans 
of  action  to  our  forces  that  were  of  great  value  during 
the  campaign. 

Later  he  took  command  of  a  government  wagon 
train  bound  for  Springfield,  Mo.,  with  supplies  for 
the  United  States  Army. 

At  one  time  he  was  wagon-master  of  a  train  ordered 
by  Gen.  Fremont  from  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  to  Se- 
daha,  Mo.,  and  for  meritorious  conduct  in  defending 
the  team  and  stores  from  an  attack  by  marauding 
parties,  he  was  made  wagon-master  of  high  rank  in 
Gen.  Curtis'  command,  the  Army  of  the  Missouri. 

As  marshal  of  Hays  City  he  was  equal  to  every 
emergency,  as  he  was  in  every  important  position  he 
was  called  to  take.  To  hold  this  office  in  such  places 
and  under  such  circumstances  as  did  Wild  Bill,  re- 
quired far  more  courage  than  is  expected  of  the  ordi- 
nary official.  The  border  element  to  which  we  have 
referred,  was  uppermost.  Not  only  to  shoot,  but  to 
kill,  seemed  to  be  demanded  in  order  to  suppress 
riots  or  to  preserve  anything  like  peace  and  order. 
The  vices  at  which  we  hold  up  our  hands  in  horror 
v/ere  the  every  day  amusements,  and  the  taking  of 
human  life  was  of  such  common  occurrence  and  for 
such  petty  causes,  that  one  would  be  in  continual 
terror  to  listen  to  the  bloody  deeds  so  often  enacted. 

Wild  Bill  led  a  more  quiet  life  when  he  joined 
Buffalo  Bill  in  his  journey  through  the  United  States 
as  an  actor,  though    he  failed  to  distinguish  himself, 


l68  BUFFALO    BILL 

and  on  several  occasions  satisfied  his  love  for  "fair 
play,"  by  settling  disputes  in  a  summary  manner. 
He  soon  weaned  of  the  life,  and  settled  on  a  plan 
of  his  own  to  make  money  by  taking  buffaloes  and 
Comanche  Indians  to  the  East,  so  that  the  people 
there  might  realize  the  spectacle  of  a  buffalo  hunt. 
This  failed  him  financially  on  account  of  not  having 
a  private  inclosure  for  the  exhibition,  though  it 
afforded  amusement  to  a  large  crowd;  but  as  money 
was  the  object,  he  concluded  to  fall  back  for  a  time 
on  a  surer  basis,  by  renewing  his  old  life  as  scout 
for  the  government.  Later  we  find  him  in  the  gold 
regions  of  the  West,  the  Black  Hills,  hoping  to  amass 
a  competency.  Ere  he  has  time  to  accomplish  his 
purpose  his  life  is  cut  short  in  its  prime,  by  one  of 
the  many  desperadoes  that  frequent  places  so  remote 
from  legal  jurisdiction,  lured  on  by  the  thirst  for  gain, 
and  hoping  to  escape  the  reach  of  justice. 

Wild  Bill  is  shot  while  engaged  with  friends  in  a 
game  of  cards,  to  avenge  a  fancied  injury  on  being 
beaten  at  a  similar  game  a  short  time  previous;  and 
though  the  assassin  escape  speedy  retribution,  it 
comes,  and  the  cold-blooded  murderer  is  at  last 
numbered  with  his  kind.  The  friends  of  Wild  Bill 
laid  him  to  rest  in  the  everlasting  mountains,  with 
kindly  hands  and  affectionate  remembrances. 


THE   FAMOUS    PONY   EXPRESS  Z69 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  FAMOUS  PONY    EXPRESS. 

The  regular  work  of  the  daring  and  romantic  over- 
land pony  express  riders  has  never  been  exceeded, 
even  by  the  recent  specially  trained  for  long-dis- 
tance riding  of  the  German  and  Austrian  army  officers. 
When  it  is  considered  that  those  pony  express  riders 
traveled  over  a  wild  country,  without  bridges  or  even 
roads  deserving  the  name,  crossed  two  great  mount- 
ain chains,  vast  alkali  deserts  and  had  to  fight  In- 
dians and  wolves  along  much  of  their  journeys  and 
that  the  average  time  made  was  250  miles  a  day,  it 
will  be  seen  that  even  the  governments  which  pay 
attention  to  such  matters  have  no  such  courier  sys- 
tem to  call  upon.  But  this  system  was  organized  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  gold  miners  of  California 
who  were  able  and  willing  to  pay,  and  in  fact  did  pay 
$5  for  each  half  ounce  of  mail  brought  to  them 
from  the  old  folks  at  home  by  the  daring  little  pony 
express  riders.  Each  rider  was  limited  to  fifteen 
pounds  of  mail,  which  was  divided  into  four  pack- 
ages of  equal  weight  and  carried  in  saddle  pockets, 
two  in  front  and  two  behind  the  rider.     So  it  will  be 


I"70  BUFFALO    RILL 

seen  that  each  rider  carried  mail  for  which  the  corn- 
pan}^  received  $2,400  in  addition,  of  course,  to  the 
United  States  postage. 

In  1859  Senator  Gwinn,  then  United  States  Sen- 
ator from  California,  and  a  devoted  Union  man,  ap- 
pealed to  the  stage  company  to  expedite  travel  and 
communications  on  the  military  road,  so  as  to  have 
a  central  line  available  to  the  North  and  South  alike, 
and  to  demonstrate  the  possibilities  of  operating  it 
in  midv/inter.  Strange  to  say,  this  grand  Union  man 
and  able  statesman  v/ent  into  the  Rebellion  and  lost 
his  wonderful  prestige  and  influence  in  California,  as 
well  as  a  fortune,  in  his  fealty  to  his  native  State  of 
Mississippi,  and  in  1866  was  made  the  Duke  of  Sonora 
by  Maximilian,  in  the  furtherance  of  some  visionary 
scheme  of  Western  empire,  but  soon  died.  His  prop- 
ositions were  duly  considered  and  responded  to  by 
that  famous  firm,  representatives  of  thrift,  enterprise, 
energy,  and  courage,  who  well  deserve  the  commen- 
dation of  history  and  the  gratitude  of  their  country- 
men. 

Russell  was  a  Green  Mountain  boy,  who  before  his 
majority  had  gone  West  to  grow  up  with  the 
country;  and  after  teaching  a  three-months'  school 
on  the  frontier  of  Missouri  had  hired  to  old  John 
Aull  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  at  $30  per  month,  to  keep 
books,  and  was  impressed  in  lessons  of  economy  by  the 
anecdotes  of  Aull  that  a  London  company  engaged 
in  the  India  trade  had  saved  ^80  per  annum  in  ink  by 


IHE    FAMOUS    PONY    EXPRESS  I7I 

omitting  to  dot  the  "i's  and  cross  the  "t's,"  when  he 
was  emptying  his  pen  by  sphishing  the  office  wall 
with  ink.  Alexander  Majors  is  still  living,  venerable 
with  years  and  honors,  a  mountain  son  of  Kentucky 
frontier  ancestry,  the  colleague  and  friend  of  Daniel 
Boone;  and  William  Waddell,  an  ancestral  Virginian 
of  the  blue-grass  region  of  Kentucky,  bold  enough 
for  any  enterprise,  and  able  to  fill  any  missing  niche 
in  Western  wants. 

The  Pony  Express  was  born  from  this  conference, 
and  the  first  move  was  to  compass  the  necessary 
auxiliaries  to  assure  success.  Eighty  young,  agile, 
athletic  riders  were  engaged  and  420  strong  and  wiry 
ponies  procured^  and  on  the  9th  of  April,  i860,  the 
venture  was  simultaneously  commenced  from  St. 
Joseph  and  Sacramento  City.  The  result  was  a  suc- 
cess in  cutting  down  the  time  more  tVian  one  half, 
and  it  rarely  missed  making  the  schedule  time  in  ten 
days,  and  in  December,  i860,  making  it  in  seven 
days  and  seventeen  hours.  The  stations  v/ere  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  miles  apart,  and  one  pony  was  rid- 
den from  one  station  to  another,  and  one  rider  made 
three  stations,  and  a  few  dare-devil  fellows  made  dou- 
ble duty  and  rode  eighty  or  eight-five  miles.  One 
of  them  was  Charles  Cliff,  now  a  citizen  of  St.  Joseph, 
who  rode  from  St.  Joseph  to  Seneca  and  back  on  al- 
ternate days.  He  was  attacked  by  Indians  at  Scott 
Bluff,  and  received  three  balls  in  his  body  and 
twenty-seven  in  his  clothes.  Cliff  made  Seneca  and 
back  in  eight  hours  each  way^ 


172  BUFFALO    BILL 

The  route  of  the  pony  express  began  at  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  and  extended  due  West  to  Fort  Kearney,  Neb., 
thence  up  the  Platte  river  to  Julesburg,  Col.,  across 
the  Platte  and  to  F'orts  Laramie  and  Bridges,  Wyo., 
and  on  to  Salt  Lake,  Utah.  The  descent  into  the 
plains  of  Nevada  was  made  by  the  route  through 
Ruby  valley  and  thence  along  the  Humboldt  river. 
The  Sierra  Nevadas  were  crossed  by  way  of  Canon 
City,  Placerville,  then  known  as  Hangtown,  and  the 
Sacramento  valley,  reached  by  the  road  the  miners 
had  made  down  by  Fplsom  to  Sacramento  and  thence 
along  the  valley  and  over  the  foothills  into  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  the  long  journey  ended. 

There  were  always  eighty  riders  in  the  saddle,  forty 
going  East  and  forty  West.  Change  stations  were 
close  together,  especially  over  the  mountainous  sec- 
tions, as  the  ponies  were  kept  at  top  speed  from  station 
to  station,  no  matter  what  kind  of  country  they  had 
to  travel.  Many  of  the  brave  lightweights  who  rode 
in  the  pony  express  service  lost  their  lives  in  Indian 
fights,  for  the  gentle  red  man  seemed  to  esteem  it  a 
peculiarly  high  honor  to  dangle  an  express  rider's  scalp 
at  his  belt. 

The  keepers  of  the  stations  had  the  ponies  already 
saddled,  and  the  riders  merely  jumped  from  the  back 
of  one  to  another;  and  where  the  riders  were  changed 
the  pouches  were  unbuckled  and  handed  to  the  al- 
ready mounted  postman,  who  started  at  a  lope  as 
soon  as  his  hand  clutched   them.     As   these  express 


THE    FAMOUS    PONY    EXPRESS  173 

Stations  were  the  same  as  the  stage  stations,  the 
employes  of  the  stage  company  were  required  to  take 
care  of  the  ponies  and  have  them  in  readiness  at  the 
proper  moment. 

At  one  of  the  change  stations,  located  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Platte  at  Fort  Kearney,  was  employed  the 
notorious  Jack  Slade,  a  Vermont  Yankee.  He  shot  a 
Frenchman  named  Jules  Bevi,  whose  patronymic  is 
preserved  in  the  present  station  of  Julesburg  on  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad.  Slade  nailed  one  of  his  ears 
to  the  station  door  and  wore  the  other  several  weeks 
as  a  watch-charm.  He  drifted  to  Montana,  and  in 
1865  was  hanged  by  the  vigilantes  on  suspicion  of 
heading  the  road  agents  who  killed  Parker  of  Atchison 
and  robbed  a  train  of  $65,000.  His  tragic  end,  as 
related  by  Doctor  McCurdy,  formerly  of  St.  Joseph, 
contains  an  element  of  the  pathetic.  "He  lived  on  a 
ranch  near  Virginia  City,  Mont.,  and  every  few  days 
came  into  town  and  filled  up  on  *benzine,  *  and  took 
the  place  by  shooting  along  the  streets  and  riding  into 
saloons  and  proclaiming  himself  to  be  the  veritable 
'bad  man  from  Bitter  Creek.'  The  belief  that  he 
was  connected  with  matters  worse  than  bad  whisky 
had  overstrained  the  long-suffering  citizens.  The 
suggestive  and  mysterious  triangular  pieces  of  paper 
dropped  upon  the  streets,  surmounted  with  the  skull 
and  arrows,  called  the  vigilantes  to  a  meeting  at 
which  the  death  of  Slade  and  two  companions  was 
determined.     On    the   fated    morning  following   the 


174  BUFFALO    BILL 

meeting  he  came  to  town  duly  sober  and  went  to  a 
drug-store  for  a  prescription,  and  while  awaiting  its 
preparation  he  was  suddenly  covered  with  twelve 
shot-guns  and  ordered  to  throw  up  his  hands.  He 
complied  smilingly,  but  proposed  to  reason  with 
them  as  to  the  absurdity  of  taking  him  for  a  bad 
man.  The  only  concession  was  permission  to  send 
a  note  to  his  wife  at  the  ranch,  and  an  hour  was  al- 
lotted him  to  make  peace  with  the  Unknown;  ropes 
were  placed  around  the  necks  of  the  three,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  time  they  were  given  short  shrift,  and 
were  soon  hanging  between  heaven  and  earth.  While 
the  bodies  were  swaying  the  wife  appeared  on  the 
scene,  mounted,  with  a  pistol  in  each  hand,  deter- 
mined to  make  a  rescue;  but  seeing  that  it  was  too 
late  she  quailed  before  the  determined  visages  of  the 
vigilantes,  and  soon  left  the  vicinity,  carrying  away, 
as  it  was  believed,  a  large  amount  of  the  proceeds  of 
Slade's  robberies." 

The  wonder  was  that  the  service  was  kept  up  at 
all;  that  so  many  of  the  riders  escaped  the  Indians 
and  the  dangers  of  flood,  storm,  snow,  heat  and  cold. 
Their  chief  advantage  in  encounters  with  the  Indians 
was  that  the  pony  express  riders  were  always  better 
mounted,  on  better  fed  horses  than  the  Indians,  and 
could  take  care  of  themselves  in  a  chase.  They 
were  a  wary  and  experienced  lot  and  difficult  to  ambus- 
cade, so  that  while  an  occasional  scalp  was  lost 
there  were  not  many  of  the  letters  longed  for  which 
never  came  over  that  dangerous  route. 


BUFFALO  bill's   PIONEER   COMPANIONS  175 

The  pony  express  went  out  of  existence  when  the 
overland  railroad  and  telegraph  service  was  completed 
in  1869.  Few  of  the  old  riders  are  still  living  and 
the  promoter  of  the  scheme,  William  H.  Russell,  and 
his  chief  assistant  B.  F.  Ficklin,  are  both  dead. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

BUFFALO  bill's  PIONEER  COMPANION. 

Besides  "Wild  Bill"  (J.  B.  Hickok.)  of  whom  an 
account  has  already  been  given,  a  number  of  Buffalo 
Bill's  companions  in  pioneer  life  on  the  plains  have 
become  world  famous.  Among  the  most  noted  of 
them  are  "California  Joe,"  "Texas  Jack"  (Jack  Omo- 
hundro,)  and  "Captain  Jack"  (Captain  Jack  Craw- 
ford.) 

A  brief  account  of  each  of  these  frontiersman,  it  is 
believed,  will  be  of  interest  to  the  reader. 

California  Joe. 

General  Custer,  in  "My  Life  on  the  Plains,"  thus 
mentions  this  famous  plainsman,  Indian-fighter  and 
scout: 

"In  concentrating  the  cavalry  which  had  hitherto 
been  operating  in  small  bodies,  it  was  found  that  each 
detachment  brought  with  it  the  scouts  who  had  been 
serving  with  them.     When  I  joined  the  command,  I 


176  BUFFALO    BILL 

found  quite  a  number  of  these  scouts  attached  to  va* 
rious  portions  of  the  cavalry,  but  each  acting  sepa- 
rately. For  the  purpose  of  organization  it  was  deemed 
best  to  unite  them  in  a  separate  detachment,  under 
command  of  one  of  their  number.  Being  unac- 
quainted with  the  merits  or  demerits  of  any  of  them, 
the  election  of  a  chief  had  to  be  made  somewhat  at 
random. 

"There   was  one    among  their   number  whose  ap- 
pearance would  have  attracted  the  notice  of  any  casual 
observer.      He    was  a  man  about   forty  years  of  age, 
perhaps  older,  over  six  feet  in  height,  and  possessing 
a  well-proportioned   frame.      His    head   was  covered 
with  a  luxuriant  crop  of  hair,  almost  jet  black,  strong- 
ly inclined  to  curl,    and  so  long  as  to    fall   carelessly 
over  his  shoulders.      His    face,  at  least  so  much  of  it 
as  was  not    concealed    by   the   long,    waving   brown 
beard   and    mustache,  was    full    of    intelligence,  and 
pleasant  to   look   upon.      His   eyes   were    handsome, 
black,  and    lustrous,  with    an   expression  of  kindness 
and  mildness  combined.      On  his  head  was   generally 
to  be  seen,  whether  awake  or  asleep,  a  huge  sombrero, 
or  black   slouch   hat,      A  soldier's    overcoat,  with  its 
large,  circular  cape,  a  pair  of   trowsers,  with  the  legs 
tucked  in  the  top  of  his  long  boots,  usually    constitu- 
ted the  make-up  of  the  man  whom  I  selected  as  chief 
scout.      He    was   known    by  the  euphonious  title  of 
*  California    Joe;'     no    other   name    seemed    ever  to 
have  been  given  him,  and   no  other  name  appeared 
to  be  necessary.. 


BUFFALO  bill's   PIONEER  COMPANIONS  I'JJ 

"This  was  the  man  whom,  upon  a  short  acquaint- 
ance, I  decided  to  appoint  chief  of  the  scouts. 

"Sending  for  California  Joe,  I  informed  him  of  his 
promotion,  and  what  was  expected  of  him  and  his 
men.  After  this  official  portion  of  the  interview  had 
been  completed,  it  seemed  proper  to  Joe's  mind  that 
a  more  intimate  acquaintance  between  us  should  be 
cultivated,  as  we  had  never  met  before.  His  first 
interrogatory,  addressed  to  me  in  furtherance  of  this 
idea,  was  frankly  put,  as  follows: 

"'See  hyar,  Gineral,  in  order  thet  we  hev  no  mis- 
Mnderstandin',  I'd  jist  like  ter  ax  ye  a  few  questions. 
First,  are  ye  an  ambulance  man  or  a  boss  man?' 

"Professing  ignorance  of  his  meaning,  I  requested 
him  to  explain. 

"*I  mean,'  he  said,  'doyer  b'lieve  incatchin'  Injuns 
in  ambulances  or  on  hossback?' 

"Still  assuming  ignorance,  I  replied,  *Well,  Joe,  I 
believe  in  catching  Indians  wherever  we  can  find  them, 
whether  they  are  in  ambulances  or  on  horseback.' 

"*Thet  ain't  what  I'm  a-drivin'  at,'  he  responded. 
*S'pose  you're  after  Injuns  and  really  want  ter  hcve 
a  tussel  with  'em,  would  yer  start  after  'em  on  hoss- 
back, or  would  yer  climb  inter  a  ambulance  and  bs 
hauled  after  'em.?  Thet's  ther  pint  I'm  a  headin' 
fer.' 

"I  answered  that  I  would  prefer  the  method  on 
horseback,  provided  I  really  desired  to  catch  the? 
Indians;  but  if  I  wished  them  to  catch  me,  I  would 
adopt  the  ambulance  system  of  attack. 


178  BUFFALO    BILL 

"'You've  hit  the  nail  sqiiar'  on  the  head,'  said  he. 
Tve  bin  with  'em  on  the  plains  whar  they  started 
out  after  Injuns  on  wheels  jist  as  ef  they  war  goin' 
to  a  town  funeral  in  ther  States,  an'  they  stood  'bout 
as  many  chances  uv  catchin'  Injuns  ez  a  six-mule 
team  would  uv  catchin'  a  pack  uv  thievin'  ki-o-tes, 
jist  as  much.'" 

The  foregoing  evinces  California  Joe's  good  judg- 
ment on  Indian  fighting,  and  we  find  that  his  percep- 
tions were  equally  acute  on  other  subjects.  We  shall 
not  be  obliged  to  enlighten  the  reader,  as  to  his  ed- 
ucational advantages  in  the  line  of  acquiring  the  use 
of  language,  since  he  speaks  for  himself.  Had  he 
informed  us  as  well  on  other  topics  the  mystery 
that  now  surrounds  his  boyhood  days  would  never 
have  existed.  He  created  this  by  scrupulously  avoid- 
ing every  allusion  to  his  parents  or  relatives,  or  to  any 
incident  or  experience  in  connection  with  them.  It 
was  as  though  they  had  never  been.  Joe  was  all  the 
name  he  desired,  and  the  curious  were  restrained  by 
a  reticence  of  manner  that  forbade  familiarity,  from 
penetrating  the  apparently  sacred  precincts  of  the 
home,  now  his  only  in  remembrance,  or  of  calling 
up  the  friends  of  other  days,  undoubtedly  lost  to  him. 
On  other  subjects  he  was  read}'  and  eager  to  exchange 
opinions,  and  showed  a  decidedly  social  nature. 

Without  being  able  to  tell  how  it  all  happened  we 
behold  him  armed  and  equipped  for  service,  already  an 
expert  in  the  use  of  firearms,  a  master  in  horse-man- 


BUFFALO   BIL./S    PIONEKR   COMPANIONS  T^g 

ship,  and  a  born  terror  to  the  red  men,  "than  whom 
ghosts  or  goblins  could  no  more  afright."  In  an  eerie 
way,  in  the  darkness,  on  his  white  horse,  he  rushed 
through  their  midst  again  and  again,  and  no  hand 
could  point  an  arrow  through  superstitious  fear.  He 
captured  their  horses,  defeated  their  plans  of  attack- 
ing, robbing  and  murdering,  by  timely  warning  those 
in  danger,  and  carried  death  to  many  a  wily  savage 
before  they  discovered  the  real  flesh  and  blood  of 
which  he  was  made. 

The  officers  of  the  regular  army  were  glad  to  pro- 
cure his  services  as  a  scout,  on  account  of  his  superior 
capabilities,  and  also  as  a  recognition  of  gallant  con- 
duct. They  were  going  out  to  fight  the  Indians,  and 
if  possible  subdue  them.  They  needed  not  only  a 
fearless,  but  a  tried,  wary,  cunning,  reliable  guide, 
and  California  Joe  was  all  of  these.  After  becoming 
celebrated  in  California  so  that  he  never  after  was 
spoken  of  without  the  name  of  the  State  being  added 
to  that  of  his  own,  he  went  with  the  Union  army  in 
defense  of  his  country,  as  one  of  a  band  of  border 
sharpshooters,  and  confirmed  his  established  reputa- 
tion for  possessing  a  deadly  aim.  Afterward  he  served 
under  Gen.  Custer  who  as  we  have  seen,  readily  per- 
ceived his  worth,  and  honored  him  by  making  him 
chief  of  scouts.  He  was  the  friend  of  Buffalo  Bill, 
Wild  Bill,  Texas  Jack  and  Captain  Jack,  and  their 
companion  in  many  thrilling  adventures  of  pioneer 
life.     His   home  was  in  Dakota   at   the  time    of  his 


l8o  BUFFALO    BILL 

death,  1876  He  was  shot  by  an  unknown  enemy. 
He  was  one  of  a  strikingly  unique  group,  whose 
weaknesses  in  common  with  mankind,  we  will  hide 
underneath  their  manly  qualities  and  heroic  deeds 
which  far  exceeded  aught  of  human  frailty. 

TEXAS  JACK. 

To  begin  with  Texas  Jack's  heart  was  in  the  right 
place,  from  the  time  his  eyes  first  opened  to  the  light 
till  the  day  they  were  closed  in  death;  for  we  find 
him  brave  and  courageous,  honest  and  true,  mindful 
of  the  rights  of  others,  and  always  ready  to  lend  a 
helping  hand,  or  champion  the  defenseless, 

How  he  imbibed  the  love  of  adventure  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  cause  him  to  determine,  even  when  a 
boy  in  one  of  the  South  Atlantic  states,  to  enter  upon 
the  exciting  life  of  the  Southwest  in  Texas,  we  can 
not  conceive,  though  his  surroundings  at  the  date  of 
his  childhood  were  well  adapted  to  fit  him,  as  far  as 
horsemanship,  hunting,  and  trapping  v;ere  concerned, 
for  the  new  life  he  was  to  lead.  He  often  in  those 
days,  assisted  in  furnishing  the  family  table  with 
game  of  his  own  shooting.  We  find  him  very  early 
determined  to  become  the  owner  of  large  herds  of 
cattle.  He  had  heard  of  the  immense  ranches  of 
Texas  and  their  wealthy  owners,  and  intended  to  use 
what  means  he  had  collected  from  the  results  of  his 
sure  aim  with  the  rifle,  to  take  him  to  that  country, 
where    he  expected  to  realize    the    visions    of  wealth 


BUFFALO   bill's    PIONEER   COMPANIONS  l8l 

that  inspired  him  to  youthful  endeavor.  He  owned 
a  pony  with  many  good  points,  to  which  he  was  much 
attached,  a  rifle,  revolver,  and  knife,  in  the  use  of 
which  he  had  become  distinguished  among  his  fel- 
lows. With  these  and  a  few  necessary  articles  of 
clothing  and  camping  utensils  suited  to  the  journey, 
he  left  his  pleasant  home  and  friends. 

Imagine  him  now  entertained  in  hospitable  homes, 
sharing  the  good  cheer  within,  and  again  cooking  his 
simple  meal  over  a  forest  fire,  and  lying  down  to 
sleep  beneath  the  stars,  with  only  his  faithful  horse 
to  share  his  solitude.  Yet  the  way  was  not  all  smooth. 
He  found  himself  in  the  hands  of  unprincipled  men, 
who  were  ready  to  rob  him  of  the  money  he  had 
hoarded  so  carefully,  and  must  use  so  prudently,  ere 
the  long  journey  was  accomplished.  But  Jack,  ever 
on  the  alert,  used  his  revolver  with  such  good  exe- 
cution that  they  failed  to  gain  their  object,  two  of 
their  number  being  killed  instantly,  and  he  continued 
on  his  way,  trusting  more  and  more  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  friendly  woods  as  night  came  on. 

When  the  Texas  border  was  reached,  he  found  he 
coula  be  of  service  to  a  family  as  "cowboy" — a  term 
given  to  those  who  follow  the  herding  of  cattle  in 
that  locality.  He  realized  that,  with  his  scanty 
means,  the  road  to  affluence  must  be  slow,  yet  he 
meant  it  to  be  sure.  He  was  a  mere  boy  as  yet,  but 
he  set  himself  to  work  in  this  capacity  with  the  energy 
needed   to  make  him   thoroughly  familiar  with    his 


I 82  BUFFALO    BILL 

duties,  and  served  so  well  that  the  owner  of  the  ranch 
considered  him  indispensable  to  his  success.  At  the 
same  time  he  was  fitting  himself  to  be  the  future 
master  of  a  ranch  of  his  own.  In  addition  to  this, 
he  was  still  perfecting  his  skill  in  trailing,  hunting, 
and  trapping,  and  from  the  sale  of  skins  increased 
the  small  sum  that  he  received  for  his  work  to  a  con- 
siderable amount. 

We  next  hear  of  him  as  hunter  to  one  of  the  gov- 
ernment forts.  Here  was  afforded  an  ample  oppor- 
tunity for  the  display  of  his  wonderful  proficiency  as  a 
marksman.  It  suited  well  his  taste,  as,  when  mounted 
on  a  fleet  steed,  he  rode  at  will  over  the  immense 
prairies  in  the  healthful  excitement  of  the  hunt,  ex- 
celling all  when  the  results  of  the  chase  were  counted 
up.  As  long  as  he  held  the  position  the  soldiers  were 
never  in  want  of  venison,  buffalo  meat,  wild  turkey, 
and  a  great  variety  of  game.  Nothing  could  have 
better  aided  the  full  development  of  his  already  fine 
form  than  this  free,  wild  life. 

He  was  now  nearly  six  feet  in  height,  with  an  ease  of 
carriage  and  self-possession  of  manner  that  betokened 
ease  of  mind.  Jack  Omohundro  was  not  ashamed 
of  his  deeds.  His  hair  fell  in  dark  waves  over  his 
shoulders,  and  gave  a  softened  expression  to  the  firm 
outhnes  of  a  face  which  showed  the  strength  of  char- 
acter that  afterward  separated  him  from  the  ordinary 
frontiersman,  and  gave  him  a  place  in  history.  He 
wore  a  buckskin  frock,  fringed  and  beaded,  and    leg- 


BUFFALO    BILL'S   PIONEER  COMPANIONS  183 

gings  of  the  same  material,  tucked  into  high-topped 
cavalry  boots,  armed  with  spurs..  The  indispensable 
belt,  with  weapons  of  the  most  approved'  make,  and 
a  gray  sombrero,  completed  his  attire. 

He  now  comes  to  the  front  as  an  Indian-fighter. 
On  one  of  his  hunting  excursions,  while  enjoying 
more  than  usually  the  delights  of  the  chase,  he  was 
surprised  by  the  appearance  of  some  sixty  Indians, 
and  his  desire  for  an  opportunity  to  distinguish  him- 
self is  satisfied.  Being  in  possession  of  a  repeating 
rifle,  he  immediately  commenced  an  attack,  instead 
of  making  any  attempt  at  flight,  as  we  would  have 
supposed  any  one  man  would  have  done. 

When  one  after  another  of  the  savages  fell  under 
the  fire  of  the  repeating  rifle,  the  others  became  dis- 
concerted, unaccustomed  to  such  a  weapon  as  they 
were  then,  and,  though  they  did  not  retreat,  hesitated 
to  advance  too  near. 

Jack  was  wounded  by  the  arrows  that  fell  thick  and 
fast  about  him,  and  also  his  horse;  but  he  withstood 
them  a  long  time,  until  he  saw  a  larger  band  of  sav- 
ages about  to  reinforce  the  first.  Then  he  concluded 
to  carry  the  four  scalps  already  obtained  from  the 
bodies  that  had  fallen  near  him,  with  all  possible 
haste  to  the  fort,  as  proof  of  the  engagement,  before 
death  should  rob  him  of  the  glory  that  would  be  at- 
tached to  the  achievement.  Under  a  shower  of  ar- 
rows from  the  pursuing  band,  both  his  horse  and  him- 
self suffering  from  their  v*^ounds,  they  sped  swiftly  on, 
and  gained  the  fort  and  desired  distinction. 


184  BUFFALO    BILL 

From  this  time  as  long  as  he  remained  at  the  post, 
he  acted  as  scout  and  guide,  in  which  field  he  won 
new  favor;  since  he  counted  not  his  own  life  dear  in 
the  service  of  humanity,  saving  many  lives  at  the  risk 
of  his  own. 

Bands  of  robbers  and  horse-thieves  frequented 
many  portions  of  the  Western  country,  and  nowhere 
were  they  more  plentiful  than  in  Texas  at  the  time  of 
which  we  write. 

Now  that  Jack  had  become  a  scout,  he  longed  in 
some  way  to  show  his  appreciation  of  this  recognition 
of  his  services,  besides  being  naturally  antagonistic 
to  anything  like  a  lawless  element. 

Being  a  close  observer,  he  already  had  suspicions 
of  a  locality  which  might  be  the  hiding-place  of  a 
noted  band,  and  as  it  was  near  the  time  when  sup- 
plies were  expected  for  the  fort,  and  he  had  on  sev- 
eral occasions  seen  parties  about  who  not  only  ap- 
parently wished  to  conceal  themselves  but  their  in- 
tentions, he  determined  to  keep  close  watch  in  order 
to  prevent  any  loss,  and,  if  possible,  to  surprise  and 
capture  the  men. 

A  small  town  near  by  was  a  popular  resort  for 
loafers  and  gamblers,  and  afforded  Jack  an  excellent 
opportunity  to  continue  the  scrutiny  of  those  whom 
he  suspected.  He  concluded  to  play  the  spy.  Enter- 
ing one  of  the  noted  gambling  houses,  in  an  off-hand 
way  he  stepped  up  to  the  bar  which  invariably  accom- 
panies such  places,  and  ordered  drinks  for  the  crowd. 


BUFFALO  bill's  PIONEER  COMPANIONS  185 

For  any  one  to  drink  alone  was  considered  almost 
an  insult  to  the  by-staiiders. 

This  opened  the  way  to  friendly  conversation,  which 
ended  in  his  being  invited  to  "take  a  hand  for  luck." 

This  would  further  his  plans  by  giving  him  the 
chance  of  hearing  whatever  might  throw  light  on  the 
identity  of  suspicious  individuals.  He  therefore  con- 
sented ;  but  luck  went  against  him,  since,  for  purposes 
of  his  own,  he  made  no  effort  to  win.  He  was  soon 
on  excellent  terms  with  the  set.  Jack  recognized 
one  among  the  number  as  the  same  person  whom  he 
had  seen  lurking  near  a  bluff  on  the  traveled  road  to 
the  fort,  and  who  had  hastily  passed  out  of  sight, 
seemingly  with  a  view  to  concealment,  when  aware 
of  his  approach. 

That  he  had  the  slightest  suspicions  that  it  was 
Texas  Jack  who  surprised  him,  and  who  now  was 
engaged  in  the  friendly  game  with  himself  and  friends, 
is  not  for  a  moment  to  be  supposed. 

The  bluff  to  which  we  have  referred  was  some  dis- 
tance from  the  road,  and  so  situated  as  to  afford  easy 
concealment,  if  desired. 

The  stranger,  for  such  we  will  call  him  till  we  prove 
his  name  and  character,  was  now  in  very  different 
costume  from  the  previous  occasion,  yet  this  was  only 
a  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  Jack's  suspicions. 
Jack  himself  had  so  altered  his  appearance  as  to  be 
hardly  recognized. 

The  next  day,  and  the  next,  he  sought  opportunity 


1 86  BUFFALO    BILL 

for  carrying  out  his  plans  by  adding  to  the  intimacy 
already  existing  between  himself  and  the  stranger. 
Finally,  at  urgent  solicitation,  he  accompanied  him 
to  his  home  in  the  mountains,  about  thirty  miles 
away. 

One  and  then  another  joined  them  there,  until  there 
were  twelve  strong,  robust  men,  well  armed.  It  was 
nearly  a  week  before  any  of  their  plans  were  disclosed. 
The  time  was  spent  in  feasting,  drinking,  and  caid- 
playing,  with  an  occasional  hunt  to  relieve  the  mo- 
notony. Cautiously  they  revealed  a  plot  for  obtain- 
ing stores,  and  asked  the  assistance  of  Dave  Hunter, 
as  Jack  was  now  called.  The  work  was  planned  for 
the  following  Friday;   it  was  now  Monday. 

Jack  must  have  time  to  warn  the  soldiers  to  pre- 
pare for  an  attack,  and  get  back  without  exciting 
doubts  as  to  his  loyalty.  It  was  a  difficult  thing  to 
do,  as  these  sharp,  fierce  men  kept  strict  watch,  on 
account  of  their  short  acquaintance. 

He  must  plan  some  excuse  for  absence.  On  plea 
of  hunting  to  break  up  the  feeling  of  lassitude  that 
he  averred  w^as  beginning  to  possess  him,  he  made 
preparations  for  departure,  purposely  in  the  absence 
of  the  larger  number  of  those  who  shared  the  retreat, 
as  less  explanation  would  then  be  required. 

How  he  sped  over  the  ground  when  once  at  liberty! 
but  not  in  the  direction  of  the  fort.  He  made  his 
way  there  by  a  circuitous  route,  and  by  ways  as  lit- 
tle frequented  as  any. 


.<^c^ 


J  f^'CJIl/-  *■  ^^-  ^"J* 


I 


BUFFALO   bill's    PIONEER   COMPANIONS  I87 

No  time  was  lost  in  revealing  the  plot  and  getting 
back  to  the  stronghold  of  the  robbers,  except  to  ob- 
tain game  with  which  to  satisfy  the  impression  he  had 
given,  that  hunting  was  the  object  of  his  going.  He 
loaded  a  fine  two-year-old  buck,  which  he  had  easily 
taken,  upon  his  horse,  sure  that  this  when  dressed 
and  served  in  true  mountaineer  style  would  not  only 
gratify  their  appetites,  but  dispel  their  doubts  as  to 
his  loyalty,  if  any  existed. 

They  eyed  him  sharply,  as  he  sprang  to  the 
ground,  and  relieved  his  restless  horse  from  the  un- 
accustomed burden  of  the  deer. 

"Where  runs  the  herd  from  which  that  buck  was 
taken.  Hunter.?  "said  one. 

"In  these  mountains,  in  the  small  canyon  to  the 
West, — fine  feed  there,"  replied  Jack,  or  Dave,  as 
he  was  known  there. 

"Too  fine,  I  fear,  to  warrant  the  finding  of  much 
game,  my  friend,"  answered  another. 

"You're  right,  boys.  So  scanty  have  I  found  game 
in  these  parts  for  the  past  two  days,  it's  a  wonder 
how  you  exist." 

"Trust  me,  the  government  is  back  of  the  deer, 
Dave,  and  besides,  owx  friends  often  share  v^ith  us; 
— sabe.?"  said  a  third. 

"Aye,  lads,  *lt's  a  poor  town  that  has  only  one 
road  to  it.'  But  I'm  as  hungry  as  a  gaunt  wolf  on  a 
desert  island.     What  can  you  set  out?" 

Dave  followed  the  three    and  was  soon  cheered  by 


l88  BUFFALO    BILL 

a  plentiful'  amount  of  provisions,  no  less  than  drinks 
of  different  kinds,  for  these  were  not  the  men  to  do 
things  by  halves. 

After  partaking  freely  of  the  food  set  before  him, 
cautious  in  indulging  in  the  tempting  beverages,  lest 
they  might,  from  the  stupidity  they  were  likely  to 
cause,  unfit  him  for  the  task  he  had  undertaken,  he 
lay  down  to  rest  from  the  fatigue  of  the  journey. 

Only  two  days  would  intervene  before  he  would  be 
needed  in  the  full  strength  of  his  manhood,  and  Texas 
Jack  would  serve  his  country  as  never  before.  But 
how  could  this  band  of  lawless  men  be  taken.!*  It 
would  be  an  easy  thing,  now  that  the  soldiers  were 
warned,  to  protect  the  stores,  but  these  desperadoes 
were  a  terror  not  to  be  despised.  It  would  need  a 
clear   head  to  plan,    and  strong  arm  to  execute. 

Let  us  leave  him  to  his  dreams  while  we  return  to 
the  fort  and  note  the  train  coming  with  supplies 

The  bustle  has  already  begun.  The  soldiers  are 
eager  to  be  engaged,  weary  of  the  dullness  of  camp 
life.  Orders  to  march  are  given,  and  soon  is  heard 
the  tramp,  tramp,  of  the  boys  in  blue.  A  portion 
of  the  command  was  to  proceed  to  a  distance  beyond 
the  supposed  point  of  attack,  to  make  sure  of  suc- 
cess, while  the  remainder  were  to  be  stationed  at  the 
bluff,  in  accordance  with  Jack's  suggestion. 

Long  before  these  were  on  their  way,  another  and 
a  strange  cavalcade*  made'  its  way  down  the  mount- 
ain side,  and   Jack  was  with    it.     The    direction  in 


BUFFALO  bill's  PIONEER  COMPANIONS  l8g 

which    they   were    moving  indicated   that    the    two 
bodies  might  meet  at  some  point. 

At  the  head  rode  the  chief  in  his  showy  and  elegant 
uniform  of  velvet  and  gold  with  the  emblem  of  his 
rank,  the  gold  star,  on  his  front.  Long  and  grace- 
fully waving  plumes  adorned  his  hat.  His  followers 
were  scarcely  less  richly  attired,  except  Jack,  who 
had  not  yet  been  formally  adopted  into  the  order, 
"The  Lone  Star  Knights." 

"A  right  royal  procession  in  outward  semblance, 
Would  that  their  deeds  were  kingly." 

They  moved  toward  the  bluff,  thinking  to  be  in 
readiness  when  the  wagon  train,  loaded  with  pro- 
visions and  ammunition,  approached.  Then  it  could 
be  easily  despoiled. 

Everything  was  quiet  as  death  until  the  turn  that 
led  to  the  place  of  concealment  was  made.  Then 
shots  came  in  quick  succession,  and  were  almost  as , 
quickly  returned.  These  cool,  determined  men  were 
accustomed  to  surprises,  and  not  easily  unnerved. 
The  fight  grew  fierce  and  desperate.  Men  were  en- 
gaged who  knew  neither  retreat  nor  surrender.  Jack 
fought  bravely,  and  hand  to  hand.  But  numbers 
were  against  the  robber  band,  and  one  after  another 
they  fell,  either  wounded  or  dead. 

The  wounded  were  carried  as  prisoners  to  the  fort, 
^nd  the  dead  were  buried  by  the  bluff.  Among  the 
dead  was  Leon  Hartley,  chief  of  "The  Lone  Star 
Knights,"  who  would  fight  to  the  death,  but  never  be 
taken  alive. 


igO  BUFFALO    BILL 

Jack  returned  to  the  fort,  but  shortly  after,  though 
the  officers  were  sorry  to  part  with  so  valuable  a 
scout,  he  determined  to  make  a  beginning  toward 
the  stocking  of  the  cattle  ranch  which  had  been  his 
ambition.  Herds  of  wild  horses  roamed  the  Texan 
plains,  and  having  found  a  companion,  he  started 
in  pursuit.  Experts  in  the  use  of  the  lariat,  it  was 
not  long  before  quite  a  large  number  were  herded 
and  driven  to  the  place  where  he  determined  to  set- 
tle. The  means  he  had  accumulated  enabled  him  to 
purchase  a  ranch  and  begin  a  substantial  business, 
and  one  that  proved  lucrative.  Later  he  is  induced 
to  engage  with  "The  Buffalo  Bill  Combination,"  in 
the  capacity  of  an  actor,  with  what  success  we  are 
not  informed.  But  frontier  life  had  sufficient  attrac- 
tions to  recall  him,  and  we  find  him  again  at  his  ranch. 

Mining,  also  claimed  his  attention  in  Colorado,  this 
State  having  become  celebrated  for  its  gold  ore. 

The  region  about  Leadville  exerted  a  magnetic  in- 
fluence, and  thither  Jack  was  drawn,  seeking  a  com- 
petence that  would  harmonize  with  the  independent 
spirit  within  him.  Strong,  not  only  in  himself  but  his 
material  resources,  he  would  then  be  able  to  gratify 
at  will  the  promptings  he  could  never  silence,  to  aid 
his  fellows  whenever  occasion  offered.  In  this  he 
was  only  moderately  successful.  His  ranch  still  held 
the  precedence  as  a  substantial  dependence.  But 
like  a  "will-o'-the-wisp"  in  the  distance,  he  ever  be- 
held the  glowing  treasures  he  would  possess,  and  ex- 


BUFFALO   bill's   PIONEER  COMPANIONS  IQI 

pecting  to  approach  and  grasp  them,  he  continued 
the  pursuit  for  gold.  His  time  was  not  all  occupied 
in  mining.  He  took  as  usual  a  general  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  which,  mushroom-like,  had  sud- 
denly grown  to  astonishing  proportions,  and  in  which 
"lad  congregated  a  medley  of  human  beings  that  would 
ifforc'  rtudy  for  an  ethnographer.  There  was  enough 
to  engage  one  of  Jack's  temperament  far  more  than 
his  leisure  hours.  Many  a  aight,  as  well  as  day,  was 
spent  in  searching  out  the  well-laid  schemes  of  treach- 
erous men,  and  thwarting  their  designs  for  robbery 
and  murder,  or  whatever  wickedness  might  be  dis- 
closed. In  not  a  few  instances  life  paid  the  penalty 
of  their  crime. 

On  the  evening  stage  from  the  mountains,  June  27, 
187 — ,  was  a  jolly  trio  of  men.  That  their  coming 
would  result  in  mischief  was  only  too  evident.  Par- 
tially intoxicated,  they  incautiously  allowed  words  to 
escape  that  gave  Jack,  who  had  come  to  witness  the 
arrivals  with  many  others,  the  key  to  their  plans. 
They  knew  of  the  presence  in  town  of  a  wealthy  cap- 
italist having  interest  in  that  vicinity,  and  believing 
that  he  would  have  a  considerable  amount  of  ready 
means  about  him,  they  purposed  awaiting  his  de- 
parture, with  the  intention  of  attacking  the  stage, 
and  obtaining  it.  To  frustrate  their  movements. 
Jack  had  asked  the  assistance  of  two  of  his  friends,  and 
after  finding  out  the  time  set  by  the  gentleman  for 
his  trip  to  the   mine   he   desired  to  visit,    they   made 


1 92  BUFFALO    BILL 

their  way  to  the  spot  they  thought  best  suited  to  the 
object  of  the  desperadoes.  They  had  some  time  to 
wait  before  the  rumbling  of  wheels  told  the  approach 
of  the  six-in-hand  held  by  Jake  Timberlake.  They 
could  hear  from  their  elevaetd  position,  a  slight  rust- 
ling below,  and  suppressed  tones.  Just  as  the  team 
turned  the  sharp  point  of  rocks  where  both  parties 
were  concealed,  "Hands  up!"  rang  out  upon  the  air, 
and  the  stage  was  brought  to  a  sudden  halt;  but  only 
for  a  moment,  ere  Texas  Jack  with  his  friends,  sprang 
forward.  Completely  surprised,  the  robbers  could 
do  nothing  but  submit  to  the  same  terms  they  had 
exacted;  since  the  same  invincible  weapons  with 
which  they  had  compelled  obedience  stared  them 
in  the  face.  The  stage-driver  and  passengers  were 
only  too  glad  to  assist  in  securing  the  criminals,  who 
were  firmly  bound  and  taken  to  the  nearest  place  to 
await  the  demands  of  justice  Jack  and  his  com- 
rades returned  to  their  labors,  not  the  richer  in 
money — this  they  would  not  accept — but  happy  in  the 
consciousness  of  another  victory  won. 

Soon  after  this  occurrence  he  became  afflicted  with 
the  lung  difficulty  which  grew  more  and  more  serious, 
and  terminated  in  death. 

CAPTAIN  JACK. 

Captain  Jack  Crawford,  the  poet  scout,  was  a  fa- 
mous border  ranger  similar  in  character  to,  and  shar- 
ing in  many  of  the  adventures  and  experiences  of  Buf- 
falo Bill. 


BUFFALO  bill's   PIONEER  COMPANIONS  I93 

When  the  excitement  broke  out  in  the  Black  Hills 
at  the  discovery  of  gold,  he,  with    many    others,  was 
attracted  in   that  direction.      In   these   mining  towns 
that  spring  up  so  suddenly,  and    often  quickly  disap- 
pear,   congregate   not  only  the  honest  miners,  ready 
to  toil  for  the  expected  gain,  but  also    human  para- 
sites, preying  upon  the  daily  laborer,  and  winning  from 
him  at  night  all   that  can  be   made   through  the  day, 
and  sometimes    much   more.      Many  are  the    brawls 
that  this  condition  of  affairs   begets.      Crimes  of  all 
kinds  are  prevalent  and,  in  the  absence  of  law-givers, 
such  men  as    Capt.  Jack   Crawford,  Wild   Bill,  Cah- 
fornia  Joe,  and  Texas  Jack,  answer  the  demands  for 
the  meteing  out  of  justice.     They  willingly  take  this 
upon  themselves.      Capt.  Jack  was  another   example 
of  remarkable  physical  strength,    and   endowed   with 
all  the  attributes    that,  combined,    made  him  a  chief 
among  his  kind,    and  fitted  him    for  the   position   to 
which  we  have  referred.    Our  hero  was  an  Irish  boy. 
When  a  mere  child,  his  parents  left  their  native  land 
with  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  better  income  in  Amer- 
ica, and  reaching  this  country,    settled  in   a  mining 
community  where  there   was  work  for  all.     Here  be- 
gan for  the  little  lad  the  hard  discipline  of  life,  before 
he  had  enjoyed  the  sports  of  boyhood,    or  the  school 
days  that  he  would  have   prized.      Even    at   his  age, 
Jack  was  too  much  of  a  philosopher  to  do  otherwise 
than  "hoe   out  his  row"  to   the  best   of  his    ability, 
though    standing  ready   to  seize  the  opportunity  for 


194  BUFFALO    BILL 

study,  if  it  came  in  his  way.  It  came,  after  a  few 
years,  and  was  so  well  appreciated  that  it  compensa- 
ted largely  for  the  lack  of  privileges  in  childhood.  A 
hitherto  latent  talent  was  developed,  which  resulted 
in  his  often  embodying  in  verse  the  doings  of  his  com- 
rades, much  to  their  delight. 

A  mining  town  was  well  suited  to  cultivate  certain 
traits,  and  to  perfect  him  in  many  of  the  accomplish- 
ments which  were  required  to  fit  him  for  the  duties  of 
scout  and  Indian-fighter.  After  establishing,  by  de- 
grees, his  own  rights  in  the  community,  he  had  many 
an  occasion  to  defend  the  lives  and  property  of  in- 
nocent parties,  who  lacked  the  self-assertion  and  phys- 
ical endowment  that  Jack  possessed. 

He  entered  the  civil  war  as  a  volunteer,  and  soon 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  officers,  among  whom 
he  became  a  general  favorite.  They  made  him  a 
special  courier  at  headquarters,  on  account  of  faith- 
ful services,  and  there  it  was  that  he  distinguished 
himself.  He  allowed  no  obstacle  to  mar  his  progress 
as  the  bearer  of  dispatches  that  might  involve  momen- 
tous results — either  turn  the  tide  of  battle  in  favor, 
or  hasten  the  disastrous  defeat,  of  the  army  he  served. 
The  hottest  fire  of  the  enemy  deterred  him  not. 
Mounted  on  a  spirited  horse,  he  dashed  fearlessly  on, 
unharmed,  while  others  fell  in  death  about  him. 
After  his  experience  in  the  war,  he  found  opportunity 
to  act  as  carrier  of  dispatches  from  one  fort  to  an- 
other in  the  West,  and  won  much  commendation  for 


I 


BUFFALO   bill's   PIONEER  COMPANIONS  I93 

the  remarkabl}'  quick  time  he  made.  This  took  him 
over  unfrequented  roads,  and  through  dismal  places, 
where  it  was  necessary  to  be  well  armed,  and  to  ex- 
ercise constant  vigilance,  not  only  on  account  of  In- 
dians, but  robbers.  At  any  moment  might  be  heard 
"Hands  up,"  as  one  entered  a  narrow  pass  or  rocky 
glen.  Only  the  more  muscular  and  brave  thought 
of  resistance,  for  life  must  pay  the  forfeit  in  most 
cases.  Jack's  motto  was  victory,  if  a  bold  front 
and  a  valiant  fight  could  win  it;  on  the  other  hand, 
death  without  fear.  We  know  the  seeming  magic  of 
a  life  thus  animated,  and  we  say  "he  bears  a  charmed 
life,"  when  escape  from  harm  is  solely  the  result  of 
a  noble  purpose  so  filling  the  soul  as  to  inspire  to  the 
utmost  every  mental  and  physical  energy. 

Fortune  placed  him  in  the  way  of  Buffalo  Bill,  of 
whom  he  had  heard.  He  admired  the  wonderful  skill 
of  this  famous  buffalo  hunter,  and  also  the  many  ex- 
hibitions of  his  untiring  zeal  in  whatever  he  under- 
took — a  quality  of  character  which,  more  than  any 
other,  earns  success  for  its  possessor.  Jack  desired 
to  become  a  scout,  like  his  newly  found  friend.  Op- 
portunity soon  offered  the  coveted  position.  Will  it 
surprise  any  when  we  assert  that  he  achieved  in  this 
field  a  reputation  equal  to  that  of  the  noted  scout, 
he  so  much  esteemed?  With  the  traits  already  ac- 
corded him,  failure   would    have   been    impossible. 

Second  under  Buffalo  Bill  as  scout  with  Custer  and 

his  brave  three  hundred  in  that  last  charge,  he  main- 

•   W  -■ 


196  BUFFALO    BILU 

tained  his  standing,  fighting  with  desperation,  though 
against  great  odds. 

In  Indian  fighting  he  was  the  equal  of  the  most 
noted  of  his  class.  Many  a  redskin  was  arrested  in 
the  fulfillment  of  vengeful  designs  by  the  prompt  ap- 
pearance of  Jack  upon  the  scene  of  action,  who  never 
failed  to  do  good  execution  with  the  trusty  weapons 
he  always  carried. 

His  attention  was  several  times  turned  to  mining. 
We  have  mentioned  the  Black  Hills  excitement. 
He  amassed  sufficient  means  to  place  him  in  com- 
fortable circumstances.  Mining,  once  entered  upon, 
however,  possesses  an  attraction  that  is  seldom  lost, 
and  we  find  Jack  no  exception.  As  long  as  earth 
yields  up  her  treasure  will  men  toil  for  gain.  Life 
in  the  West  also  satisfied  his  love  for  excitement  and 
adventure.  Here  was  ample  scope  for  his  ambition. 
Her  boundless  prairies  and  her  rugged  mountains 
furnished  a  vast  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  powers. 
Our  hero  was  at  home. 

Imagine  Jack  Crawford  in  possession  of  a  mining 
property  from  which  he  realized  a  fair  income,  situa- 
ted in  a  picturesque  mountain  range  which  afforded  a 
goodly  variety  of  game,  and  gave  that  freedom  of 
action  so  characteristic  of  the  man;  whose  peaks  in- 
spired song,  and  whose  valleys  were  restful  to  gaze 
upon.  Nestled  among  the  hills  was  a  little  cabin, 
over  which  trailed  in  profusion  the  wild  cypress  vine 
and  the  morning  glory,  and  Inside  the  simple  furnish- 


BUFFALO  BILl/S   PIONEER   COMPANIONS  I97 

ings  of  a  pioneer  home.  Not  only  valuable  weapons 
and  trophies  of  war  adorned  the  walls,  but  what  was 
unusual,  books,  which  our  poet-scout  had  learned  to 
value.  From  the  doorway  could  be  seen  the  sharers 
of  his  adventures  and  participators  in  the  hunt,  crop- 
ping the  fragrant  grass  upon  the  hillside. 

Any  one  in  trouble  welcomed  the  face  of  Capt.  Jack. 
There  was  no  doubt  but  he  would  render  the  needed 
assistance.  "Fair  play,"  was  the  creed  of  this  man 
and  he  lived  it.  Though  somewhat  rough  in  exterior, 
an  inward  refinement  often  revealed  itself  in  kindly 
acts.  His  clear,  friendly  eyes  carried  a  benediction 
in  their  gaze,  and  the  hand  that  grasped  yours  sent 
a  thrill   of   magnetic   influence   that   told   of   power. 

There  was  nothing  unusual  in  his  dress  to  distin- 
guish him  from  many  another  scout,  but  his  manners 
and  bearing  revealed  at  once  the  superiority  that  we 
claim.  We  have  none  of  his  verses  to  place  before 
the  reader,  yet  we  trust  he  will  see  in  the  deeds  he 
performed,  unwritten  poems,  bearing  the  stamp  of 
true  eloquence. 


igS  BUFFALO   BILL 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

POETRY   OF   THE    PLAINS. 

CODY'S  CORRAL; 

OR 

THE  SCOUTS  AND  THE  SIOUX. 

BY    BUCKSKIN    SAM. 

A  mount-inclosed    valley,   close  sprinkled  with  fair 

flowers, 
As  if  a  shattered  rainbow  had  fallen  there  in  showers; 
Bright-plumaged    birds    were    warbling   their   songs 

among  the  trees, 
Or  fluttering  their  tiny  wings  in  the  cooling  western 

breeze. 
The  cottonwoods,  by  mountain's  base,  on  every  side 

high  tower, 
And  the  dreamy   haze    in   silence   marks   the  sleepy 

noontide  hour. 
East,  south  and  north,  to  meet  the  clouds  the  lofty 

mounts  arise, 
Guarding  this  little  valley — a  wild  Western  Paradise. 
Pure  and  untrampled  as  it  looks,  this  lovely  flower- 
strewn  sod — 


I 


POETRY    OF   THE    PLAIN  I 99 

One  scarce  would  think  that  e'er,  by  man,  had  such 

a  sward  been  trod ; 
But  yonder,    see  these  wild  mustangs  by  lariat  held 

in  check, 
Tearing  up  the  fairest  flora, which  fairies  might  bedeck; 
And,  near  a  camp-fire's  smoke,  we  see  men  standing 

all  around — 
*Tis  strange,    for  from  them  has    not  come  a  single 

word  or  sound. 
Standing  by  Cottonwood,  with  arms  close-folded  on 

his  breast, 
Gazing  with  his  eagle  eyes  up  to  the  mountain's  crest, 
Tall  and  commanding  is  his  form,  and  graceful   is  his 

mien; 
As  fair  in  face,  as  noble,  has  seldom  here  been  seen. 
A  score  or    more    of   frontiersmen    recline  upon   the 

ground, 
But  starting  soon   upon  their  feet,  by  sudden  snort 

and  bound! 
A  horse  has  sure  been  frightened  by  strange  scent  on 

the  breeze. 
And  glances   now  by   all  are  cast  beneath  the  tower- 
ing trees. 
A  quiet  sign  their  leader  gives,  and  mustangs  now  are 

brought; 
And,  by  swift-circling  lasso,  a  loose  one  fast  is  caught. 
Then  thundering  round  the  mountain's  dark  adaman- 
tine side, 
A  hundred  hideous,  painted,  and  fierce  Sioux  warriors 

ride; 


200  BUFFALO    BILL 

While,  from  their  throats,  the  well-known  and  horri- 
ble death-knell 
The  wild  blood-curdling   war-whoop,    and  the   fierce 

and  fiendish  yell, 
Srikes  the  ears  of  all,  now  ready  to  fight,  and  e'en  to 

die, 
In  that  mount-inclosed  valley,  beneath  that  blood-red 

sky! 
Now  rings  throughout  the  open,  on  all  sides  clear  and 

shrill. 
The  dreaded  battle-cry  of  him  whom  men  call  Buffalo 

Bill! 
On.  like  a  whirlwind,  then  they  dash — the  brave  scouts 

of  the  plains. 
Their  rifle-barrels  soft-carest  by    mustang's    flying 

manes! 
On,  like  an    avalanche,    they  sweep  through  the  tall 

prairie  grass; 
Down,  fast  upon  them,  swooping,  the  dread  and  sav- 
age mass! 
Wild  yells  of  fierce  bravado  come,  and  taunts  of  deep 

despair; 
While,  through  the  battle-smoke  there   flaunts  each 

feathered  tuft  of  hair. 
And  loudly  rings  the  war-cry  of  fearless  Buffalo  Bill; 
And    loudly    rings    the  savage  yells,  which  make  the 

blood  run  chill! 
The    gurgling   death  cry  mingles  with  the  mustang's 

shrillest  scream, 


POETRY    OF    THE    PLAINS  20I 

And  sound  of  dull  and  sodden  falls  and  bowie's  bright- 
est gleam. 
At  length  there  slowly  rises  the  smoke  from  heaps  of 

slain, 
Whose  wild  war-cries  will  never  more  ring  on  the  air 

again. 
Then,  panting  and   bespattered  from  the  showers  of 

foam  and  blood, 
The  scouts   have  once  more  halted  'neath  the  shady 

Cottonwood. 
In  haste  they  are  re-loading,  and  preparing  for  a  sally, 
While  the  scattered  foe,  now  desperate,  are  yelling  in 

the  valley. 
Again  are  heard  revolvers,  with  their  rattling,   sharp 

report; 
Again  the  scouts  are  seen  to  charge   down  on  that 

wild  cohort. 
Sioux   fall   around,    like    dead  reeds,    when   fiercest 

northers  blow. 
And  rapid  sink  in  death  before  their  hated  pale-face 

foe! 
Sad,  smothered  now  is  music  from  the  mountain's  rip- 
pling rill, 
But  wild  hurrahs  instead  are  heard  from  our  brave 

Buffalo  Bill, 
Who,    through  the  thickest  carnage  charged  ever  in 

the  van, 
And  cheered  faint  hearts  around  him,  since  first  the 

fight  began. 


202  BUFFALO    BILL 

Deeply  demoralized,    the    Sioux   fly  fast  with  bated 

breath, 
And  glances  cast  of  terror  along  that  vale  of  death; 
While  the  victors  quick  dismounted,    and  looking  all 

around, 
On  their  dead  and  mangled  enemies,    whose  corses 

strewed  the  ground, 
"I  had  sworn  I  would  avenge  them" — were  the  words 

of  Buffalo  Bill— 
"The  mothers  and  their  infants  they  slew  at  Medicine 

Hill. 
Our   work  is  done — done  nobly — I   looked  for   that 

from  you; 
Boys,   when  a  cause  is  just,  you  need  but  stand  firm 

and  true!" 

BILL  CODY. 

BY  WM.   A.   ANNIN. 

You  bet  I  know  him,    pardner,    he  *aint  no  circus 

fraud. 
He's  western  born   and   western  bred,  if  he  has  been 

late  abroad; 
I  knew  him  in  the  days  way  back,  beyond  Missouri's 

flow, 
When  the  country  round   was  nothing  but  a  huge 

Wild  Western  Show. 
When  the  Injuns  were  as  thick  as  fleas,  and  the  mav 

who  ventured  through 


POETRY    OF    THE    PLAINS  20$ 

The  sand  hills  of  Nebraska  had  to  fight  the  hostile 
Sioux; 

These  were  hot  times,  I  tell  you ;  and  we  all  remem- 
ber still 

The  days  when  Cody  was  a  scout,  and  all  the  men 
knew  Bill. 

I  knew  him  first  in  Kansas,  in  the  days  of  '68, 
When  the    Cheyennes  and   Arapahoes   were  wiping 

from  the  slate 
Old  scores  against  the  settlers,  and  when  men  who 

wore  the  blue. 
With  shoulder  straps  and  way  up  rank,  were  glad  to 

be  helped  through 
By  a  bearer  of  dispatches,  who  knew  each  vale  and  hill 
From   Dakota  down  to  Texas,    and  his  other  name 

was  Bill. 

I  mind  me  too  of  ^y6,  the  time  when  Cody  took 
His   scouts  upon  the   Rosebud;    along  with  General 

Crook; 
When  Custer's  Seventh  rode  to  their  death  for  lack 

of  some  such  aide 
To  tell   them  that   the  sneaking  Sioux  knew  how  to 

ambuscade; 
I  saw  Bill's  fight  with  "Yellow  Hand,"  you  bet  it  was 

a  "mill," 
He  down  him  well  at  thirty  yards,  and  all  the  men 

cheered  Bill 


204  BUFFALO    PILL 

They  tell  me  that  the  women  folk  now  take  his  word 

as  laws, 
In  them  days  laws   were   mighty  skerce,  and    hardly 

passed  with  squaws. 

But  many  a  hardy  settlers  wife  and  daughter  used  to 
rest 

More  quietly  because  they  knew  of   Cody's  dauntless 

breast  t 
Because  they  felt   from   Laramie  way  down  to  Old 

Fort  Sill, 
Bill  Cody  was  a  trusted  scout,  and  all  their  men  knew 

Bill. 

I  haven't  seen  him  much  of  late,  how  does  he  bear 

his  years? 
They  say   he's   making  ducats  now  from  shows  and 

not  from  "steers," 
He  used  to  be  a  judge  of  "horns,"  when  poured   in  a 

tin  cup, 
And  left   the  wine  to  tenderfeet,    and  men  who  felt 

"way  up." 
Perhaps  he  cracks  a  bottle  now,  perhaps  he's  had  his 

fill. 
Who  cares,  Bill  Cody  was  a  scout,  and  all  the  world 

knows  Bill. 

To  see  him  in   his  trimmins,  he  can't  hardly  look 

the  same. 
With  laundered  shirt  and  diamonds,   as  if  "he  run  a 

game." 


POETRY    OF    THE    PLAINS  205 

He  didn't  wear  biled  linen  then,  or  flash  up  diamond 
rings. 

The  royalties  he  dreamed  of  then  were,  only  paste- 
board kings, 

But  those  who  sat  behind  the  Queens  were  apt  to  get 
their  fill, 

In  the  days  when  Cody  was  a  scout,  and  all  the  men 
knew  Bill. 

BUFFALO  CHIPS,  THE  SCOUT,  TO  BUFFALO 

BILL. 

BY  CAPT.  JACK  CRAWFORD,  POET  SCOUT. 

[The  following  verses  on  the  life  and  death  of  poor 
old  Buffalo  Chips  are  founded  entirely  on  facts.  His 
death  occurred  on  September  8,  1876,  at  Slim  Buttes. 
He  was  within  three  feet  of  me  when  he  fell,  utter- 
ing the  words  credited  to  him  below.] 

The  evenin'  sun  war  settin',  droppin'  slowly  in  the 

west, 
An*   the   soldiers,    tired  an'   tuckered,    in  the  camp 

would  find  that  rest 
Which    the   settin'   sun  would  bring  'em,  for  they'd 

marched  since  break  o'  day. 
Not  a  bite  to  eat  'cep  horses  as  war  killed  upon  the 

way. 
For  ye  see  our  beans  an'   crackers  an'  our  pork  were 

outen  sight, 


206  BUFFALO    BILL 

An'  the  boys  expected  rashuns  when  they  struck  our 
camp  that  night; 

For  a  Httle  band  had  started  for  to  bring  some  cattle 
on, 

An'  they  struck  an  Indian  village,  which  they  cap- 
tured just  at  dawn. 

Wall,  I  were  with  that  party  when  we  captured  them 

ar'  Sioux, 
An'   we  quickly  sent  a  courier  to  tell  old  Crook  the 

news. 
Old  Crook!  I  should  say  gen'l,  cos  he  war  with  the 

boys. 
Shared  his  only  hard-tack,  our  sorrows,  and  our  joys; 
An'  thar  is  one  thing  sartin — he  never  put  on  style; 
He'd  greet  the  scout   or  soldier  with  a  social  kinder 

smile. 
An*  that's  the  kind  o'  soldier  as  the  prairy  likes  to  get, 
An'   every  man   would  trump  Death's  ace  for  Crook 

or  Miles,  you  bet. 

But  I'm  kinder  off  the  racket,  cos  these  gener'ls  get 

enough 
O'  praise   'ithout   my  chippin',  so  I'll  let  up  on  that 

puff; 
Fer  I  want  to  tell  a  story  'bout  a  mate  of  mine  as  fell, 
Cos   I    loved  the  honest  fellar,  and  he  did  his  dooty 

well. 
Buffalo  Chips  wecall'd  him,  but  his  other  name  war 

White; 


POETRY    OF    THE    PLAINS  207 

I'll   tell  ye  how  he  got  that  name,  an'  reckon  I  am 
right. 

You  see  a  lot  of  big-bugs  an*  officers  came  out 

One  time  to  hunt  the  buffaler  an'   fish  fer  speckled 

trout. 
Wall,  little  Phil,  ye've  heerd  on  him,  a  dainty  little 

cuss 
As  rode  his  charger  twenty  miles  to  stop  a  little  muss; 
Well,    Phil   he  said  ter  Johnathin,  whose  other  name 

war  White, 
"You  go   an'  find  them  buffaler,  an'  see  you  get  'em 

right." 
So  White  he  went   an'  found  'em,  an*  he  found  *em 

sech  a  band 
As  he  sed  would  set  'em   crazy,  an'  little  Phil  looked 

bland; 
But  when  the  outfit  halted,  one  bull  was  all  war  there. 
Then   Phil   he  call  him  "Buffalo  Chips,'*  an'  swore  a 

little  swear. 

Wall,  White  he  kinder  liked  it,  cos  the  gener'l  called 

him  Chips, 
An'  hs   us'ter  wear  two  shooters  in  a  belt  above  his 

hips. 
Then    he  said,    "Now,  look  ye,  gener'l,  since  you've 

called  me  that  ar'  name, 
Jist  around  them  little  sandhills  is  yer  dog-gone  pesky 

game! 


2o8  BUFFALO    BILL 

But  when  the  hunt  war  over,  an'  the  table  spread  for 
lunch, 

The  gener'l  called  for  glasses,  an'  wanted  his  in  punch; 

An'  when  the  punch  was  punished,  the  gener'l  smack- 
ed his  lips. 

While  squar'  upon  the  table  sot  a  dish  o'  buffalo  chips^ 

The  gener'l   looked  confounded,    an'  he  also  looked 

for  White, 
But  Johnathin  he  reckon'd  it  war  better  he  should  lite. 
So  he  skinned  across  the  prairy,  cos  ye  see  he  didn't 

mind 
A  chippiti'  any  longer  while  the  gener'l  saw  the  blind; 
Fer  the  gener'l  would  a  raised  him,  if  he'd  jist  held 

up  his  hand, 
But  he  thought   he   wouldn't  see  him,  cos  he  didn't 

hev  the  sand; 
An*  he  rode  as  fast — aye,  faster — than  the  gener'l  did 

that  day. 
Like  lightin'   down  from   Winchester  some  twenty 

miles  away. 

Wall,   White  he  had  no  cabin,  an'  no  home  to  call 

his  own. 
So  Buffaler  Bill  he  took  him  an'  shared  with  him  his 

home. 
An'  how  he  loved  Bill  Cody!    By  gosh!  it  war  a  sight 
Ter  see  him  watch  hisshadder  an'  follerhim  at  night; 
Cos  Bill  war  kinder  hated  by  a  cussed  gang  o'  thieves, 


POETRY    OF    THE    PLAINS  209 

As  carried  pistols  in  thar  belts,    an'  bowies  in  that 

sleeves. 
An'  Chips  he  never  left  him,  for  fear  he'd  get  a  pill; 
Nor  would  he  think  it  mighty  hard  to  die  for  Buffalo 

Bill. 

We  us'ter  mess  together,  that  ar'  Chips  an'  Bill  an' 

me, 
An'  ye  oughter  watch   his  movements;   it  would  do 

ye  good  ter  see 
How  he  us'ter  cook  them   wittles,    an'  gather  lots  o' 

greens, 
To  mix  up  with  the  juicy  pork  an'  them  unruly  beans. 
An'  one  cold  chilly  mornin'  he  bought  a  lot  o'    corn, 
An'  a  little  flask  o'  likker,  as  cost  fifty  cents  a  horn. 
Tho'  forty  yards  war  nowhar,  it  was  finished  soon,  ye 

bet; 
But,  friends,  I   promised  some  one,  and  I'm  strong 

teetotal  yet. 

BUFFALO  BILL  AND  YELLOW  HAND. 

BY    HUGH  A.   WETMORE. 

You  may  talk  'bout  duels  requirin'  sand, 
But  the  slickest  I've  seen  in  any  land 
Was  Buffalo  Bill's  with  Yellow   Hand. 

Thar  wa'n't  no  seconds  to  split  the  pot,  ^ 

No  noospaper  buncombe,  none  o'  the  rot 
Your  citified,  dudefied  duels  'as  got. 


2IO  BUFFALO    BILL 

Custer  was  not  long  into  his  shroud 

When  a  bunch  o'  Cheyennes  quit  Red  Cloud 

To  j'in  the  cranky  Sittin'  Bull  crowd. 

It  looked  somewhat  like  a  crazy  freak, 
But  Merritt's  cavalry  made  a  sneak 
To  head  the  reds  at  Big  Bonnet  Creek. 

Bill  an'  some  soljers  was  on  one  side, 

For  which  Bill  was  actin'  as  chief  an'  guide 

When  he  git  this  call  from  the  copper-hide: 

"I  know  ye,  Long-Hair,"  yells  Yellow  Hand 
A-ridin*  out  from  his  pesky  band 
(A  reg'lar  bluff  o*  the  Indian  brand.) 

"You  kill  heap  Injun,  I  kill  heap  white; 
My  people  fear  you  by  day  or  night; 
Come,  single-handed,  an'  you  me  fight." 

"I'll  go  ye!"  quick  as  a  thunder-clap 

Says  Bill,  who  jest  didn't  care  a  rap; 

"Stan'  by,  an'  watch  me  an'  the  varmint  scrap." 

They  was  then  'bout  fifty  yards  apart, 
When  without  a  hitch  they  made  a  start 
Straight  for  each  other,  straight  as  a  dart. 

The  plug  which  was  rid  by  that  Cheyenne 
Was  plugged  by  a  slug  from  Bill's  rifle,  an' 
Bill's  boss  stumbled — now  'twas  man  to  man! 


POETRY    OF    THE    PLAINS  311 

Or  man  to  devil,  'f  you  like  that  best. 

But  in  them  days,  in  the  sure-enough  West, 

All  stood  as  equals  who  stood  the  test. 

They  next  at  twenty  steps  blazed  away, 
An'  had  they  ben  equal  both  had  ben  clay, 
But  Bill  was  best,  an'  he  win  ther  day. 

It's  a  good  shot  to  hit  a  Injun's  heart, 
For  obvious  reasons.      Bill  wa'n't  scart. 
An'  found  the  center  without  a  chart. 

When  they  see  Bill  claim  the  tommyhawk 
An'  feathers  an'  beads  wore  by  the  gawk, 
The  other  Injuns  begin  to  squawk. 

It  all  happened  so  dad-gasted  quick. 

The  opposition  must  'a'  felt  sick; 

But  to  my  taste  the  duel  was  monstrous  slick. 

The  other  Injuns  made  for  Bill, 

But  the  soljers  met  *em  on  the  hill, 

An'  convinced  *em  they  had  best  keep  still. 

When  Yellow  Hand,  Senior,  beared  the  news 

He  offered  ponies  'f  Bill  'd  let  loose 

Them  trophies — but  Bill  he  wa'n't  no  goose. 

With  this  remark  I'll  close  my  letter: 
"Thar's  nought  a  Injun  can  do — no  matter 
What — but  a  white  man  can  do  it  better." 
15 


212  BUFFALO    BILL 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


CUSTER  S  LAST   CHARGE. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  "Buffalo 
Bill's  Wild  West  and  Congress  of  Rough  Riders  of 
the  World"  exhibition  at  the  World's  Fair,  was  the 
reproduction  in  miniature  of  the  battle  of  the  Little 
Big  Horn,  showing  with  historical  accuracy  the  scene 
of  Custer's  last  charge. 

As  that  realistic  scene  is  based  on  Buffalo  Bill's 
understanding  of  the  actual  occurrence  his  account  of 
the  battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  as  given  in  his 
"Autobiography,"  is  reproduced  here: 

"War  against  the  Sioux  having  been  declared, 
brought  about  by  the  combined  causes  of  Black  Hill 
outrages  and  Sitting  Bull's  threatening  attitude,  it 
was  decided  to  send  out  three  separate  expeditions, 
one  of  which  should  move  from  the  north,  under  Gen. 
Terry,  from  Fort  Lincoln;  another  from  the  east, 
under  Gen.  Gibbon,  from  Fort  Ellis,  and  another 
from  the  south,  under  Gen.  Crook,  from  Fort  Fet- 
terman;  these  movements  were  to  be  simultaneous, 
and  a  junction  was  expected  to  be  formed  near  the 
headwaters  of  the  Yellowstone  river. 


Custer's  last  charge  213 

"For  some  cause,  which  I  will  refrain  from  discus- 
sing, the  commands  did  not  start  at  the  same  time. 
Gen.  Crook  did  not  leave  Fetterman  until  March 
1st,  with  seven  hundred  men  and  forty  days*  supply. 
The  command  was  intrusted  to  Col.  Reynolds,  of  the 
Third  Cavalry,  accompanied  by  Gen.  Crook,  the  de- 
partment commander.  Nothing  was  heard  of  this  ex- 
pedition until  the  22nd  following,  when  Gen.  Crook 
forwarded  from  Ft.  Reno  a  brief  account  of  his  bat- 
tle on  Powder  river.  The  result  of  this  fight,  which 
lasted  five  hours,  was  the  destruction  of  Crazy  Horse's 
village  of  one  hundred  and  five  lodges;  or  that  is  the 
way  the  dispatch  read,  though  many  assert  that  the 
battle  resulted  in  little  else  than  a  series  of  remark- 
able blunders  which  suffered  the  Indians  to  make  good 
their  escape,  losing  only  a  small  quantity  of  their 
property. 

"One  serious  trouble  arose  out  of  the  Powder  river 
fight,  which  was  found  in  an  assertion  made  by  Gen. 
Crook,  or  at  least  attributed  to  him,  that  his  expe- 
dition had  proved  that  instead  of  there  being  15,000 
or  20,000  hostile  Indians  in  the  Black  Hills  and  Big 
Horn  country,  that  the  total  number  would  not  ex- 
ceed 2,000.  It  was  upon  this  estimation  that  the 
expeditions  were  prepared. 

"The  Terry  column,  which  was  commanded  by  Gen. 
Custer,  consisted  of  twelve  companies  of  the  Seventh 
Cavalry,  and  three  companies  of  the  Sixth  and  Sev- 
enteenth Infantry,   with  four  Gatling  guns,  and  a  de- 


214  BUFFALO    BILL 

tachment  of  Indian  scouts.  This  force  comprised 
twenty-eight  officers  and  seven  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  men,  of  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  eight  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  men  of  the  Sixth  and 
Seventeenth  Infantry,  two  officers  and  thirty-two 
men  in  charge  of  the  Catling  battery,  and  forty-five 
enlisted  Indian  scouts,  a  grand  total  of  thirty-eight 
officers  and  nine  hundred  and  fifty-nine  men,  includ- 
ing scouts. 

"The  combined  forces  of  Crook,  Gibbon,  Terry  and 
Custer,  did  not  exceed  twenty-seven  hundred  men, 
while  opposed  to  them  were  fully  17,000  Indians, 
all  of  whom  were  provided  with  the  latest  and  most 
improved  patterns  of  repeating  rifles. 

"On  the  1 6th  of  June  Gen.  Crook  started  for  the 
Rosebud,  on  which  stream  it  was  reported  that  Sit- 
ting Bull  and  Crazy  Horse  were  stationed;  about  the 
same  time  a  party  of  Crow  Indians,  who  were  oper- 
ating with  Gen.  Crook,  returned  from  a  scout  and  re- 
ported that  Gen.  Gibbon,  who  was  on  Tongue  river, 
had  been  attacked  by  Sitting  Bull,  who  had  captured 
several  horses,  Crook  pushed  on  rapidly  toward  the 
Rosebud,  leaving  his  train  behind  and  mounting  his 
infantry  on  mules.  What  were  deemed  accurate  re- 
ports, stated  that  Sitting  Bull  was  still  on  the  Rose- 
bud, only  sixty  miles  from  the  point  where  Gen.  Crook 
camped  en  the  night  of  the  15th  of  June.  The  com- 
mand traveled  forty  miles  on  the  sixteenth,  and  when 
within  twenty  miles  of  the  Sioux'  principal  position, 


CUSTER'S    LAST    CHARGE  215 

instead  of  pushing   on,  Gen.  Crook  went  into  camp. 

"The  next  morniug  he  was  much  surprised  at  find- 
ing himself  attacked  by  Sitting  Bull,  who  swooped 
down  on  him  with  the  first  streaks  of  coming  dawn, 
and  a  heavy  battle  followed.  Gen.  Crook,  who  had 
camped  in  a  basin  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  high 
hills,  soon  found  his  position  so  dangerous  that  it 
must  be  changed  at  all  hazards.  The  advance  was 
therefore  sounded  with  Noyes*  battalion  occupying  a 
position  on  the  right.  Mills  on  the  right  center,  Cham- 
bers in  the  center,  and  the  Indian  allies  on  the  left. 
Mills  and  Noyes  charged  the  enemy  in  magnificent 
tyle,  breaking  the  line  and  striking  the  rear.  The 
fight  continued  hot  and  furious  until  2  p.  m.,  when  a 
gallant  charge  of  Col.  Royall,  who  was  in  reserve, 
supported  by  the  Indian  allies,  caused  the  Sioux  to 
draw  off  to  their  village,  six  miles  distant,  while  Gen. 
Crook  went  into  camp,  were  he  remained  inactive  for 
two  days. 

"In  the  meantime,as  the  official  report  recites:  *Gen- 
erals  Terry  and  Gibbon  communicated  with  each  other 
June  1st,  near  the  junction  of  the  Tongue  and  Yel- 
lowstone rivers,  and  learned  that  a  heavy  force  of 
Indians  had  concentrated  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
Yellowstone,  but  eighteen  miles  distant.  For  four- 
teen days  the  Indian  pickets  had  confronted  Gibbon's 
videttes.' 

"Gen.  Gibbon  reported  to  Gen.  Terry  that  the  cav- 
alry had  thoroughly  scouted  the  Yellowstone  as  far 


2l6  BUFFALO    BILL 

as  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn,  and  no  Indians  had 
crossed  it.  It  was  now  certain  that  they  were  not 
prepared  for  them,  and  on  the  Powder,  Tongue,  Rose- 
bud, Little  Horn,  and  Big  Horn  rivers.  Gen.  Terry 
at  once  commenced  feehng  for  them.  Major  Reno, 
of  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  with  six  companies  of  that 
regiment,  was  sent  up  Powder  River  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  to  the  mouth  of  Little  Powder  to  look 
for  the  Indians,  and,  if  possible,  to  communicate  with 
Gen.  Crook.  He  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Little 
Powder  in  five  days,  but  saw  no  Indians,  and  could 
hear  nothing  of  Crook.  As  he  returned,  he  found  on 
the  Rosebud  a  very  large  Indian  trail,  about  nine 
days  old,  and  followed  it  a  short  distance,  vvhen  he 
turned  about  up  Tongue  river,  and  reported  to  Gen. 
Terry  what  he  had  seen.  It  was  now  known  that 
no  Indians  were  on  either  Tongue  or  Little  Powder 
rivers,  and  the  net  had  narrowed  down  to  Rosebud, 
Little  Horn  and  Big  Horn  rivers. 

"Gen.  Terry,  who  had  been  waiting  with  Custer 
and  the  steamer  'Far  West,'  at  the  mouth  of  Tongue 
river,  for  Reno's  report,  as  soon  as  he  heard  it,  or- 
dered Custer  to  march  up  the  south  bank  to  a  point 
opposite  Gen.  Gibbon,  who  was  encamped  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Yellowstone,  keeping  abreast  of 
Gen.  Custer's  column. 

"Gen.  Gibbon  was  found  in  camp  awaiting  devel- 
opments. A  consultation  was  had  with  Gens.  Gib- 
bon and  Custer,  and  then  Gen.  Terry  definitely  fixed 


"^-A., 


'1. 


M»>^X-«»    "J* 


CUSTER'S  LAST  CHARGE  217 

upon  the  plan  of  action.  It  was  believed  the  Indi- 
ans were  at  the  head  of  the  Rosebud,  or  over  on  the 
Little  Horn,  a  dividing  ridge  only  fifteen  miles  wide 
separating  the  two  streams.  It  was  announced  by 
Gen.  Terry  that  Gen.  Custer's  column  *  would  strike 
the  blow. ' 

"At  the  time  that  a  junction  was  formed  between 
Gibbon  and  Terry,  Gen.  Crook  was  about  one  hun- 
dred miles  from  them,  while  Sitting  Bull's  forces  were 
between  the  commands.  Crook,  after  his  battle, 
fell  back  to  the  head  of  Tongue  river.  The  Powder, 
Tongue,  Rosebud  and  Big  Horn  rivers  all  flow  north- 
west, and  empty  into  the  Yellowstone;  as  Sitting  Bull 
was  between  the  headwaters  of  the  Rosebud  and  Big 
Horn,  the  main  tributary  of  the  latter  being  known 
as  the  Little  Big  Horn,  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 
topography  of  the  country  is  thus  afforded  by  which 
to  definitely  locate  Sitting  Bull  and  his  forces. 

"Having  now  ascertained  the  position  of  the  enemy, 
or  reasoned  out  the  probable  position,  Gen.  Terry  sent 
a  dispatch  to  Gen  Sheridan,  as  follows:  *No  Indians 
have  been  met  with  as  yet,  but  traces  of  a  large  and 
recent  camp  have  been  discovered  twenty  or  thirty 
miles  up  the  Rosebud.  Gibbon's  column  will  move 
this  morning  on  the  north  side  of  the  Yellowstone, 
for  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn,  where  it  will  be  fer- 
ried across  by  the  supply  steamer,  and  whence  it  will 
proceed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Horn,  and  so  on. 
Custer  will  go  up   the   Rosebud  to-morrow   with  his 


2l8  BUFFALO    BILL 

whole  regiment,  and  thence  to  the  headwaters  of  the 
Little  Horn,  thence  down  that  stream.' 

"Following  this  report  came  an  order,  signed  by 
E.  W.  Smith,  Captain  of  the  Eighteenth  Infantry, 
Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  directing  General 
Custer  to  follow  the  Indian  trail  discovered,  pushing 
the  Indians  from  one  side  while  General  Gibbon 
pursued  them  from  an  opposite  direction.  As  no 
instructions  were  given  as  to  the  rate  each  division 
should  travel,  Custer,  noted  for  his  quick,  energetic 
movements,  made  ninety  miles  the  first  three  days, 
and,  discovering  the  Indians  in  large  numbers,  di- 
vided his  command  into  three  divisions,  one  of  which 
he  placed  under  Major  Reno,  another  under  Major 
Benteen,  and  led  the  other  himself. 

■    CUSTER    STRIKES    THE    INDIANS. 

"As  Custer  made  a  detour  to  enter  the  village,  Reno 
struck  a  large  body  of  Indians,  who,  after  retreating 
nearly  three  miles,  turned  on  the  troops  and  ran  them 
pell  mell  across  Grassy  creek  into  the  woods.  Reno 
over  estimated  the  strength  of  his  enemies  and 
thought  he  was  being  surrounded.  Benteen  came  up 
to  the  support  of  Reno,  but  he,  too,  took  fright  and 
got  out  of  his  position  without  striking  the  enemy. 

"While  Reno  and  Benteen  were  trying  to  keep 
open  a  way  for  their  retreat,  Custer  charged  on  the 
village,  first  sending  a  courier.  Trumpeter  Martin, 
to  Reno  and  Benteen   with  the  following  dispatch: 


CUSTER'S    LAST    CHARGE  219 

*Big  village;  be  quick;  send  on  the  packs.'  This 
order  was  too  plain  to  be  misconstrued.  It  clearly 
meant  that  he  had  discovered  the  village,  which  he 
intended  attacking  at  once;  to  hurry  forward  to  his 
support  and  bring  up  the  packs,  ambulances,  etc. 
But  instead  of  obeying  orders  Reno  and  Benteen 
stood  aloof,  fearful  lest  they  should  endanger  their 
position,  while  the  brave  Custer  and  his  squad  of 
noble  heroes  rushed  down  like  a  terrible  avalanche 
upon  the  Indian  village.  In  a  moment,  fateful  inci- 
dent, the  Indians  came  swarming  about  that  heroic 
band  until  the  very  earth  seemed  to  open  and  let 
loose  the  elements  of  volcanic  fury,  or  like  a  riot  of 
the  fiends  of  Erebus,  blazing  with  the  hot  sulphur  of 
their  impious  dominion.  Down  from  the  hillside,  up 
through  the  valleys,  that  dreadful  torrent  of  Indian 
cruelty  and  massacre  poured  around  the  little  squad  to 
swallow  it  up  with  one  grand  swoop  of  fire.  But 
Custer  was  there  at  the  head,  like  Spartacus  fighting 
the  legions  about  him,  tall,  graceful,  brave  as  a  lion 
at  bay,  and  with  thunderbolts  in  his  hands  His  brave 
followers  formed  a  hollow  square,  and  met  the  rush, 
and  roar,  and  fury  of  the  demons.  Bravely  they 
breasted  that  battle  shock,  bravely  stood  up  and  faced 
the  leaden  hail,  nor  quailed  when  looking  into  the  blaz- 
ing muzzles  of  five  thousand  deadly  rifles. 

"Brushing  away  the  powder  grimes  that  had  set- 
tled in  his  face,  Custer  looked  over  the  boiling  sea  of 
fury  around  him,  peering  through  the  smoke  for  some 


aao  BUFFALO    BILL 

signs  of  Reno  and  Benteen,  but  seeing  none  yet 
thinking  of  the  aid  which  must  soon  come,  with 
cheering  words  to  his  comrades,  he  renewed  the  bat- 
tle, fighting  still  like  a  Hercules  and  piling  heaps  ol 
victims  around  his  very  feet. 

"Hour  after  hour  passed  and  yet  no  friendly  sign 
of  Reno's  coming;  nothing  to  be  seen  saving  the  bat- 
tle smoke,  streaks  of  fire  spliting  through  the  misty 
clouds,  blood  flowing  in  rivulets  under  tramping  feet, 
dying  comrades,  and  Indians  swarming  about  him, 
rending  the  air  with  their  demoniacal  *hi-yi-yip-yah, 
— yah-hi-yah.  * 

THE  MASSACRE. 

"The  fight  continued  with  unabated  fury  until  late 
in  the  afternoon;  men  had  sunk  down  beside  their 
gallant  leader  until  there  was  but  a  handful  left,  only 
a  dozen,  bleeding  from  many  wounds  and  hot  car- 
bines in  their  stiffening  hands.  The  day  is  almost 
done,  when  look!  heaven  now  defend  him!  the  charm 
of  his  life  is  broken,  for  Custer  has  fallen;  a  bullet 
cleaves  a  pathway  through  his  side,  and  as  he  falters 
another  strikes  his  noble  breast.  Like  a  strong  oak 
stricken  by  the  lightning's  bolt,  shivering  the  mighty 
trunk  and  bending  its  withering  branches  down  close  to 
the  earth, so  fell  Custer;  but  like  the  re-acting  branch- 
es, he  rises  partly  up  again,  and  striking  out  like  a 
fatally  wounded  giant  lays  three  more  Indians  dead 
and   breaks  his  mighty  sword  on   the    musket    of   a 


WORLD'S    FAIR    WILD    WEST  221 

fourth;  then,  with  useless  blade  and  empty  pistol 
falls  back  the  victim  of  a  dozen  wounds.  He  is  the 
last  to  succumb  to  death,  and  dies,  too,  with  the 
glory  of  accomplished  duty  on  his  conscience  and  the 
benediction  of  a  grateful  country  on  his  head.  The 
place  where  fell  these  noblest  of  God's  heroes  is 
sacred  ground,  and  though  it  be  the  Golgotha  of  a 
nation's  mistakes  it  is  bathed  with  precious  blood, 
rich  with  the  germs  of  heroic  inheritance." 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
world's  fair  wild  west. 

The  Chicago  Sunday  Herald  of  November  5th, 
1893,  gives  the  following  interesting  account  of  "Buf- 
falo Bill's  World's  Fair  Wild  West  and  Congress  of 
Rough  Riders  of  the  World:" 

"One  of  the  remarkable  society  events  last  week,  un* 
accountably  overlooked  by  the  local  society  editors^ 
was  the  breaking  up  of  that  distinguished  coterie  ol 
world's  fair  visitors  known  to  contemporaneous  fame 
as  'Buffalo  Bill's  Wild  West  and  Congress  of  Rough 
Riders  of  the  World.'  During  their  stay  in  this  city, 
since  April  last,  their  residence  had  been  on  a  large 
and  fashionably  located  tract  of  land  near  the  Sixty- 
third  street  station  of  the  Illinois  Central  exposition 
line,  and  in  a  huge  structure  specially  erected  for  the 


222  BUFFALO    BILL 

purpose  this  large  galaxy  of  celebrities  had  been  giv- 
ing two  daily  receptions  to  the  public  all  through  the 
exposition  season.  These  receptions,  as  the  society 
papers  frequently  assured  us,  were  uniformly  well  at- 
tended, rain  or  shine;  so  much  so  that  the  total  num- 
ber of  guests  received  there  aggregated  close  on  to 
6,000,000.  This  fact  in  itself  places  this  series  of 
receptions  in  the  right  light — they  were  an  unprece- 
dented popular  success.  Unprecedented,  for  Nate 
Salsbury,  the  right  bower  of  W.  F.  Cody,  says  so 
himself.  The  number  of  visitors  was  larger  than 
during  the  same,  constellation's  London  season,  and 
the  number  of  good  American  dollars  collected  during 
the  six  months  was  likewise  much  larger  than  on  any 
previous  occasion.  As  for  their  Staten  Island  sea- 
son it  was,  in  the  expressive  vernacular  of  Mr.  Sals- 
bury,  'not  a  patch'  on  the  Chicago  success  of  the 
past  summer.  A  fair  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  this 
success  will  be  gained  when  it  is  said  that  there  were 
22,000  seats  for  spectators  around  the  big  arena, 
and  that  during  the  last  two  months  of  the  fair  these 
22,000  seats  were  not  alone  crowded  to  the  last  of 
them,  but  that  many  thousand  of  visitors  had  to  be 
turned  away  at  the  box  office  for  absolute  lack  of 
space.  On  a  score  of  occasions  from  10,000  to  15,- 
000  had  to  be  thus  treated.  And  among  the  proud- 
est records  made  by  this  Chicago  season  was  this, 
that  not  a  single  arrest  had  to  be  made,  no  drunken 
man  had  to  be  ejected  and  no  fight  occurred.     This, 


world's  fair  wild  west  223 

with  an  attendance  of  6,000, oco!  Buffalo  Bill  him- 
self was  never  too  late  for  any  performance,  never 
missed  a  single  one,  and  was  twice  in  the  saddle 
each  day  and  every  day  out  of  the    187. 

"But  alas  and  alack!  Like  everything  else  in  this 
world  there  was  an  end  to  this  remarkable  Chicago 
season.  The  closing  performances  were  given  on 
Tuesday  last,  and  Wednesday  and  Thursday  sav7  the 
dispersal  of  this  phenomenal  gathering  of  men. 
They've  been  sent  home  to  every  point  of  the  globe 
— to  the  deserts  of  Arabia  and  the  river  valleys  of 
Syria,  to  the  civilized  countries  of  Europe  and  to  the 
semi-barbarous  districts  of  the  Caucassus  and  of  the 
Kuban.  The  Indians,  no  matter  whether  Cheyenne 
or  Brules,  Ogalallas  or  Crows,  whether  chiefs  or  sim- 
ple warriors,  squaws  or  papooses — they've  all  been 
sent  back  to  their  reservation  in  the  Pine  Ridgt* 
agency.  Next  spring,  though,  there  will  be  a  grand 
resurrection  of  all  this  pageant.  The  horses  and 
ponies,  broncos  and  buffaloes  will  winter  in  South 
Brooklyn,  opposite  New  York  City,  and  be  put  in 
good  trim  for  next  season's  work.  There  were  400 
bipeds  of  every  kind  and  nationality  in  the  show 
this  past  season.  There  will  be  700  of  them  in  it  next 
year,  and  the  show  will  hold  forth  in  this  same 
locality  of  South  Brooklyn.  The  great  variety  of  Eu- 
ropean features  that  have  added  so  much  to  the  at- 
tractions of  the  show  as  a  whole  vv'ill  be  retained  next 
season  as  well,   but   will  be  increased.      Meanwhile, 


224  BUFFALO   BILL 

however,  the  contracts  with  the  German,  English, 
French  and  Cossack  military  riders  having  expired, 
those  go  home.  So  do  the  gauchos  and  vaqueros 
from  South  America  and  Mexico,  while  the  score  or 
so  of  cowboys,  exercising  their  functions  as  free 
American  citizens,  will  go  where  inclination  impels 
them — to  the  far  west  or  to  some  faro  'layout*  in 
town  to  get  rid  of  their  accumulated  'dust.'  Antonio, 
the  little  Mexican  who  some  time  last  summer  grew 
weary  of  the  daily,  twice  repeated  dose  of  bucking 
broncho  and  tried  a  job  as  driver  of  a  wagon  for  a 
lumber  yard,  but  returned  to  duty  after  coming  to 
grief  in  his  new  work,  is  also  going  home. 

LO  LOOKING  FOR  AN  ACCIDENT. 

"Speaking  of  bucking  bronchos,  though,  recalls  one 
of  the  amiable  characteristics  of  the  Indians.  Du- 
ring every  performance  it  will  have  been  noticed  that 
the  whole  herd  of  them,  over  one  hundred,  were  al- 
ways stretched  out  in  a  dense  line,  their  heads  pro- 
truding from  below  the  scenery  in  a  distance,  intently 
watching  those  portions  of  the  performance  where 
the  cowboys  were  having  'fun'  with  their  untamed 
bronchos  and  from  which  the  Indians  were  excluded. 
This  remarkable  interest  taken  by  the  Indians — male 
and  female — in  this,  the  most  dangerous  and  the 
roughest  number  of  the  programme,  was  probably  due 
to  the  anxiety  felt  by  those  redskins  in  the  welfare 
of  the  cowboys.     You  think  so?     Well,  no,    the  In- 


world's  fair  wild  west  225 

dian  spectators  were  simply  waiting  for  accidents  to 
happen,  and  an  unhorsed  cowboy,  a  bad  case  of  be- 
ing thrown  against  the  fence,  of  breaking  a  bone  or 
sustaining  severe  contusions,  of  being  kicked  by  one 
of  the  brutes — things  which  happened  now  and  then, 
of  course — these  were  all  incidents  which  afforded  un- 
alloyed pleasure  to  the  tender  soul  of  the  noble  red 
man.  And  that  alone  explained  the  deep  and  inva- 
riable interest  he  felt  in  this  part  of  the  programme. 

"It  has  been  a  busy  and  a  highly  profitable  season 
for  the  owners  and  managers  of  Colonel  Cody's  outfit. 
But  it  has  not  been  a  round  of  pleasure  for  them,  such 
as  it  was  for  most  of  the  other  world's  fair  visitors. 
On  the  contrary,  it  was  a  time  of  unremitting  toil 
and  anxiety.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  keep  in 
a  state  as  near  approaching  harmony  as  possible  and 
good  discipline  such  a  heterogeneous  collection  of 
human  beings  as  they  have  had  to  deal  with.  Colonel 
Cody  had  to  institute  and  carry  out  a  system  of 
Draconian  severity  so  as  to  avoid  the  frequent  clash- 
ing of  national  prejudices  and  of  temper.  Sobriety, 
too,  had  to  be  enforced,  and  when  a  cowboy  or  an 
Indian,  a  Mexican  or  an  Arab  would  flagrantly  vi- 
olate the  rules  laid  down  in  this  respect  out  he'd  go, 
just  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  a  deterrent  exam- 
ple. 

"It  will,  therefore,  easily  be  believed  that  Colon#^. 
Cody  himself,  as  well  as  his  trusty  comrades,  Na^ 
Salsbury  and  Major  "Johnny"  Burke,  have  been  am^r 


226  BUFFALO    BILL 

iously  awaiting  the  moment  when  the  whole  camp 
would  fold  up  tlieir  tents  and  silently  steal  away,  go 
as  to  be  afforded  a  chance  to  have  a  good  time  them- 
selves. That  moment  has  now  come,  and  Colonel 
Cody  has  had  a  new,  satin-faced  dress  suit  built  for 
himself,  in  which  he  intends  to  undergo  a  formidable 
array  of  social  gayeties.  After  sufficiently  dosing  him- 
self with  5  o'clock  teas,  literary  reunions,  scientific 
seances,  theater  parties,  etc*,  he  means  to  join  Gen- 
eral Miles  in  a  hunting  excursion  in  the  far  west,  and 
also  in  a  tour  of  inspection  of  the  outlying  military 
posts.  These  two  men  are  close  friends,  and  have 
a  similarity  of  tastes  which  makes  their  company 
mutually  agreeable.  Afterward  Colonel  Cody  will 
visit  his  ranch  in  Nebraska. 

*Nate  Salsbury  will  hie  him  to  New  York,  his  fa- 
vorite stamping  ground  of  old,  where  he  will  renew 
friendships  and  pleasant  associations  dating  from  the 
period  of  his  stage  career.  Of  course,  the  appearance 
of  such  a  nabob — for  that  Mr.  Salsbury  now  is,  com- 
paratively speaking — on  the  rialto  cannot  fail  to  arouse 
considerable  enthusiasm  in  the  breasts  of  the  impecuni- 
ous but  entertaining  actor,  whose  name  just  about  this 
time  is  legion,  particularly  when  it  becomes  known, 
that  Mr.  Salsbury  harbors  philanthropic  intentions, 
and  that  his  milk  of  human  kindness  has  not  become 
cuv<i?ed  by  any  means  through  his  long  association 
w>«to  the  Wild  West.  Beside  this  agreeable  task, 
tho««gh,    Mr.  Salsbury  will  earnestly  devote  himself, 


world's  fair  wild  west  227 

throughout   the    winter,  to    making  preparations  for 
the  coming  season. 

"That,  too,  will  be  the  main  thing  for  Major  Burke, 
the  general  manager  of  the  show,  this  coming  winter. 
The   giant   frame   of  this  handsome,  stalwart    man, 
with   the  Absolomic   head  of  hair  and    the  diamond 
cluster   for    a  shirt    button,   will    be  seen  for  a  little 
while  longer  about  Chicago  streets,  overtopping,  Saul- 
like, the    stature    of  his    fellow  citizens    of  smaller 
girth.      He    being   the  great   favorite  with  nearly   all 
the    wild    elements  in  the   Wild   West,    such   as  the 
Indians,  the  Arabs,   the  Mexicans,  cowboys  and  Cos- 
sacks, he  was  fairly  pestered  to  death  by  them  during 
the  last   two  days  preceding  the   final   farewell.     He 
had    to   make    out   certificates   of  good   behavior   to 
them,  intended    for   the  Czar  of  all   the    Russias,  for 
the   imperial   Bill  at   Potsdam,  for  President  Carnot, 
General   Diaz    and   other  men  of  note,  and  he  dislo- 
cated  his   right  arm  in   shaking    hands   with   all   his 
muscular  charges  on  parting.      But  Major  Burke  will 
be    O.  K.    in   a  day  or  two,    and  then  he  will  devote 
himself    once  more  strictly  to  business. 

"A  personage  of  great  consequence  in  the  Wild  West 
Slow  has  been  for  eleven  years  past  William  Langan, 
the  supply  agent,  caterer,  steward,  restaurateur  and 
liquid  refreshment  chief.  To  feed  and  quench  the 
tf  irst  of  400  regular  boarders,  as  well  as  a  large  num- 
ber  of  guests  of  distinction  who  were  dined,  wined 
ard  hospitably   entertained  by  Colonel  Cody  during 


228  BUFFALO    BILL 

the  past  six  months  is  a  task  of  considerable  difficulty, 
especially  where  tastes  differ  so  widely  as  was  the  case 
in  this  instance.  To  give  an  adequate  idea  of  the  ex- 
tent of  the  resources  on  which  Mr.  Langan  had  to 
draw  it  is  only  necessary  to  mention  a  few  items. 
Thus,  an  average  of  thirty-live  pounds  of  coffee  was 
consumed  every  day,  live  pounds  of  tea,  seven  bush- 
els of  potatoes,  390  pounds  of  bread,  900  pounds  of 
meat  and  180  dozens  of  eggs.  This,  it  may  be  no- 
ticed, demonstrates  the  possession  of  rather  healthy 
appetites  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
pany. 

"Sergeant  Garrett  C.  Pogue,  of  troop  A,  Sixth 
United  States  Cavalry,  will  go  back  to  Fort  Nio- 
brara, Neb.,  to  join  his  regiment.  He  has  been  com- 
manding the  detachment  of  Uncle  Sam's  soldiers  that 
have  done  such  good  service  at  all  the  performances, 
and  who,  as  far  as  skill  in  horsemanship  and  exact- 
ness in  evolutions  were  concerned,  outdid  all  the  rest 
of  the  military  detachments  brought  over  from 
Europe — even  the  squad  of  dashing  German  uhlans 
and  the  one  of  French  chasseurs  a  cheval.  To  bring 
his  handful  of  men  to  such  an  extraordinary  degree 
of  perfection  in  drill  was,  of  course,  no  easy  matter, 
and  Sergeant  Pogue,  a  fine-looking,  well-built  man 
of  unusual  intelligence  and  of  many  years'  practical 
experience  as  a  trooper,  had  besides  to  look  very 
sharply  after  his  men  in  everything  else.  Now  and 
then,    however,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  restrain 


world's  fair  wild  west  229 

one  or  the  other  of  them  from  breaking  out.  One 
of  his  men,  for  instance,  a  typical  Tipperary  man 
named  Greeney,  with  a  typical  enjoyment  of  and 
hankering  after  a  fight,  got  into  altercations  with 
some  of  the  foreign  soldiers  on  several  occasions.  It 
was  on  a  hot,  sultry  night,  Mr.  Greeney  having  im- 
bibed a  trifle  too  freely,  that  he  ran  afoul  of  some  of 
the  French  chasseurs.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
there  was  a  regular  engagement  on,  the  weapons 
used  being  sabers.  Mr.  Greeney  stood  up  like  a 
rock  against  the  three  Frenchmen  and  used  his  sa- 
ber with  a  good  deal  of  science.  Finally  he  knocked 
the  sabre  out  of  the  hand  of  his  doughtiest  adversary, 
broke  it  against  a  tree  and  then  punished  his  man 
with  his  bare  hands.  Still  on  another  occasion  he 
licked  the  drillmaster  of  the  German  uhlans,  Richter. 
With  these  few  exceptions,  though,  everything  pro- 
ceeded amicably  among  the  four  detachments  of  for- 
eign soldiers. 

"It  must  not  be  forgotten,  either,  that  there  were 
several  additions  to  the  families  who  formed  an  inter- 
esting part  of  this  international  medley.  The  last 
birth  recorded  in  the  camp  happened  but  three  days 
before  the  breaking  up  of  the  show.  Mrs  Last 
Horse  was  the  happy  mother,  a  full-blooded  Sioux 
squaw,  who  had  her  baby  strapped  to  a  board  Indian 
fashion  and  Was  up  and  about  attending  to  her  do- 
mestic duties  within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  inter- 
esting event.     Another   pappoose   was  born    on    the 


230  BUFFALO    BILL 

grounds  about  two  months  before.  Both  of  these 
little  Chicagoans  have  accompanied  their  parents 
back  to  Pine  Ridge  agency  and  are  doing  finely.  An- 
other similar  event  occurred  in  the  household  (domi- 
ciled in  one  of  the  small  tents)  of  the  famous  shot, 
Johnny  Baker,  whose  wife  presented  him  with  a 
straight-limbed,  vigorous  baby  boy  two  hours  after 
she  had  participated  in  one  of  the  rowing  matches  on 
the  lagoon  in  August  last,  and  where  she  had  been 
one  of  the  laurel-wreathed  victors,  beating  a  brawny 
fellow  from  the  street  of  Cairo  by  a  canoe  length. 

"One  of  the  most  picturesque  and  interesting  per- 
sonages in  the  whole  show  was  old  John  Y.  Nelson, 
who  was  always  specially  introduced  to  an  appreci- 
ative audience  by  Buffalo  Bill  himself.  With  his  lithe, 
well-built  frame,  his  long  beard  just  slightly  tinged 
with  gray,  this  old  man  is  the  very  type  of  the  old- 
time  frontiersman.  He  looks  barely  55,  and  his 
limbs  are  still  vigorous  and  supple.  But  he  is  72 
years  of  age  all  the  same,  and  he  has  gone  through 
enough  hair-breadth  escapes  to  fill  a  half-dozen  dime 
novels  with  choice  reading.  Old  man  Nelson  was  born 
and  bred  in  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  and  left  home — 
ran  away  in  fact  — at  the  age  of  12,  just  sixty  years 
ago,  to  satisfy  his  longing  tor  adventure.  Since 
then — with  the  exception  of  the  last  twelve  years, 
which  he  has  spent  in  the  service  of  Buffalo  Bill,  his 
trusty  friend  of  yore  — he  has  lived  in  the  far  west. 
In  all  that  time  he  has  seen  his  mother  but  twice, 
pne  of  the  occasion?  being  jthirty  years  ago. 


world's  fair  wild  west  231 

"One  day  last  September,  during  a  regular  perform- 
ance, as  that  veteran  of  the  plains  was  going  through 
his  part  in  the  performance,  a  shrill  cry  arose  among 
the  audience.  An  old  lady,  whose  hair  was  as  white 
as  snow,  but  whose  sight  was  still  as  keen  as  ever, 
threw  up  her  arms  and  cried:  "Johnny,  my  boy!" 
It  was  Nelson's  mother,  an  old  lady  of  93,  who  had 
come  here  from  her  present  home  in  Greenwood  Coun- 
ty, Kansas,  during  the  world's  fair  period  to  see  the 
sights.  The  meeting  between  mother  and  son  was 
very  affecting,  it  may  well  be  believed,  and  as  the  old 
man  told  the  writer  of  it,  and  added  that  he  would 
spend  the  winter  with  his  old  mother  in  Kansas,  there 
was  a  suspicious  moisture  in  his  eyes.  He  added, 
though,  quite  jauntily,  that  he  thought  his  mother 
might  live  many  another  year,  since  his  family  was  a 
long-lived  one,  his  grandfather  having  died  at  108  — 
after  burying  four  wives — and  his  uncle  at  99.  Colonel 
Cody  bears  old  man  Nelson  a  sincere  affection,  and 
it  is  quite  certain  that  the  latter  will  be  again  an 
integral  portion  of  the  show  next  year.  On  his  part 
Mr.  Nelson  speaks  very  entertainingly  of  his  European 
experiences,  and  hopes  to  see  the  Wild  West  show 
flourish  perennially. 

"It  is  a  rather  unusual  sight  to  see  a  band  of  untu- 
tored Indians  eat  ice  cream.  Last  Fourth  of  July 
you  could  have  enjoyed  that  sight  if  you  had  been 
present  at  the  great  dinner  prepared  by  Colonel  Cody 
i^r  bit  compAny  of  400  in  the  big  dining;  tent  en  the 


232  BUFFALO    BILL 

grounds.  There  was  a  splendid  spread — roast  beef 
and  roast  mutton  galore,  a  dozen  different  vegetables, 
some  game  and  venison,  good  soup  to  begin  with,  and 
cakes,  fruit,  puddings,  pies  and  ice  cream  for  dessert. 
The  Indians— some  125  at  that  time — were  there,  of 
course,  in  full  force,  and  as  they  like  to  have  every 
thing  they're  going  to  have  in  front  of  them  at  once, 
they  had  been  humored  in  this  respect.  It  was  hot 
that  day,  and  the  perspiration  rolled  off  their  copper- 
hued  faces.  Nevertheless,  the  Indians  were  hungry,  and 
they  carefully  inspected  all  of  these  dainties  before 
them,  many  of  which   were  new  to  them. 

"Chief  No  Neck,  a  man  of  substance  and  owning 
considerable  property,  among  which  is  a  large  num- 
ber of  fleet  horses,  saw  white  men  drive  in  light  bug- 
gies, in  tandems,  in  tallyhos,  in  dog  carts  and  other 
stylish  turn-outs,  and  his  soul  grew  envious  at  the 
sight.  He  told  Major  Burke  one  day  to  go  with  him 
to  town  and  buy  some  stylish  vehicles  for  him.  The 
major  tried  to  make  the  savage  understand  that  such 
pretty  vehicles  would  not  do  for  his  trackless  prairie 
home,  but  the  chief  remained  obdurate.  And  so  the 
major  had  to  go  along  with  him  and  make  the  best 
bargain  for  Chief  No  Neck  he  could.  Two  airy,  light 
vehicles  were  thus  picked  out  by  the  Indian  and  duly 
sent  west  with  him  on  the  same  train  that  conveyed 
the  doughty  v/arrior  home.  By  this  time  there  are 
probably  only  fragments  remaining  of  these  two 
dainty  tandems. 


world's  fair  wild  west  233 

"Another  Indian  that  furnished  considerable  amuse- 
ment throughout  the  season  was  Flat  Iron,  who  was 
a  sort  of  general  utility  man  to  the  rest,  serving  as 
public  crier,  as  *  medicine  man'  and  as  a  vehicle  of 
instruction  and  information.  The  Indian  idea  is  that 
there  are  far  more  Indians  than  white  men  in  chis 
world,  and  the  immense  crowds  of  white  men  that 
attended  the  Wild  Wesc  peiiormances  and  the  fair 
rudely  shook  this  notion  of  theirs.  They  could  only 
explain  things  to  themselves  by  the  assumption — to 
which  they  adhered  to  the  end — that  the  white  people 
they  saw  on  succeeding  days  were  always  the  same 
persons  attending  day  after  day.  But  at  last  Chicago 
day  came,  and  they  saw  crowds  upon  crowds,  throngs 
of  such  density  and  immensity  that  even  that  assump- 
tion of  theirs  did  not  seem  to  explain  the  vast  multi- 
tude. On  that  day  Albert  Wallace,  a  waiter  and  in- 
terpreter, connected  with  the  Wild  West  show,  inter- 
viewed Flat  Iron  and  some  other  Indians  as  to  what 
they  thought  now.  After  many  a  grunt  and  after  try- 
ing to  evade  a  direct  answer.  Flat  Iron  said: 

"  'Vash  tay — there  cannot  be  more  white  people  in 
the  world.     They  have  all  come  here  to-day. ' 

"There  is,  somewhere  hidden  out  of  sight,  quite  a 
fund  of  repartee  and  humor  concealed  about  those 
Indians  To  a  white  man  who  inquired  his  name 
while  making  a  trip  on  an  exposition  flyer,  the  Indian 
said:      *Train  so  fast — left  name  behind.' 

"In  the  culinary  line,  too,  there    were    many  sur- 


^54  BUFFALO   BILL 

prises,  as  when  a  cowboy  who  had  never  before  been 
away  from  the  western  plains  said  on  being;  served 
by  Mr.  Langan    with    a  dish  of    mutton  and    caper 

sauce:     "The  meat  is  good  enough,  but  I'll    be 

if  I'll  eat  those  sour  peas."  When  on  another  occa- 
sion this  heterogeneus  crowd  of  Arabs,  Cossacks,  cow- 
boys and  Indians  were  regaled  with  cauliflower 
stewed  in  cream,  not  a  few  of  them  sent  it  back,  re- 
marking that  they  wanted  full-grown  cabbage. 

In  short,  whoever  wants  to  study  humanity  from 
the  ludicrous  side  need  only  spend  a  day  in  the  tents 
of  the  Wild  West  camp.  Just  now,  of  course,  this 
study  must  be  deferred  until  next  spring,  when  an- 
other motley  crowd,  drawn  from  both  hemispheres, 
will  delight  and  curiously  interest  the  American 
public. 


THB  END 


